A Glutton for Punishment...

This was the general consensus when I decided to be in charge of dessert for my Gamma's 91st birthday. As I've said before, if there's an event in my family, I am automatically in charge of cake. I really wish my family could learn to like other desserts, I'm very sick of cake. I don't really even like cake. Anyway...

Since I am constantly baking and decorating, this has forced me to try and one-up myself. I am getting incredibly bored of piping flat designs on cake. So I decided this time I would do something different, and since it's for my very favorite grandparent, it had to be spectacular. The project: individual cakes, frosted with chocolate ganache, with everyone's name on their personal cake. 15 of them. It was a much larger undertaking than I had anticipated. By some. I actually had to make my mother stop inviting people.

First, I should tell you that if you are planning to do something like this, you should be making test batches until you are satisfied. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to EAT every test batch you make. Unless you're in my family, where giving away cake is considered a form of blasphemy. This is where the punishment part comes in. I spent a week eating cake. Never again. Also you need to make sure you have room to store them.

After all was said and done, the final product came out okay. It wasn't exactly what I wanted -- after all, I am a perfectionist -- but it was more than enough to impress my family. Now all I have to do is come up with a way to out-do this:

I don't know why this won't rotate correctly...

An expensive venture, a lot of anxiety, a lot of yelling... but there's one.  Filled with our usual chocolate frosting. 

The Good, The Bad, and the Golden (Globes)

Yes, I'm jumping on the media bandwagon, and I'm gonna talk about last night's Golden Globe Awards.  I'm not going to review the whole show.  Personally, I was only paying attention to the nominees I have any interest in.  And that pretty much accounts for a few big-name stars, and Glee.

First of all, I am going to talk about the host.  I would like to preface this unfavorable review by stating that I happen to adore Ricky Gervais when he's making social commentary on things like nursery rhymes and fat people.  I think he's hilarious, and observant; I love his stand-up specials, I have even been known to quote him.  However, I think what he did last night was in very poor taste.  Yes, when you host an awards show, you are almost obligated to poke fun at the audience members.  You are not supposed to use it as an opportunity to make everyone in the room as uncomfortable as possible.  And especially don't insult the PRESIDENT of the association whose awards show you're hosting!

Robert Downey, Jr. had an excellent response to Gervais' ugly remark regarding his trips to jail and the Betty Ford Clinic.  He diffused the situation with humor and sarcasm, as only he could.  Tom Hanks' and Tim Allen's responses were also eloquent and funny.  However, I give major kudos to HFPA President, Phillip Berk, for stating the most wonderfully diplomatic response: “Ricky, next time you want me to help you qualify your movies, go to another guy.”  Well said, Sir.


To close up my first segment, my opinion of Ricky Gervais' hosting prowess can best be explained by paraphrasing something I once heard Mike Meyers say on an episode of Inside The Actors' Studio:  "There is no such thing as 'high comedy' and 'low comedy,' so much as there is 'funny' and 'not funny.'"  Ouch.


Secondly, (and most emphatically!) GLEE!!! Five nominations.  Three awards.  I was completely blown away when Glee won the Golden Globe for Best TV Series - Comedy or Musical!  I thought for sure it was gonna go to The Big C.  Jane Lynch won the Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a TV series, which was not so much a surprise to me as it was a wish that was granted.  But when Chris Colfer took home the Globe for best supporting actor, I actually cried.  My heart burst with pride and excitement when I watched him take in the information, and give a witty, and heartfelt speech.  And because I loved watching it SO much, I will leave you with a reprise of this exact moment!  Enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A new year, for new beginnings right?  Cross your fingers for me.  Haha.

If you are expecting an update on my new year's resolution, I don't have one.  I spent about 10 days on vacay in San Diego (and BOY, did I need it!) so I'm still coming up to speed back in LA.  More updates when I eventually have a place and my own kitchen.  So possibly not for another few months.

I will however recount my most favorite moments of my vacation (and I don't even have pictures... *facepalm*)

• Staying at "Chez Lisa" is awesome, no matter which way you swing it.  Queen size bed, fabulous pillow, TV and cable, a walk in closet, and an extra large shower.  And that's just the guest bedroom and guest bathroom.  She also has an amazing kitchen.  We're talking sub-zero freezer, polished stone counter-tops, and all new appliances.  Such a turn-on.

• Making my friend Scott his long-overdue pomegranate ice cream.  Blended a couple recipes, and it still could use a little tweaking.  But it worked.

• New Year's Eve.   The whole evening.  I haven't had that much fun in quite some time.  Got to see some of my favorite people all in one place, see the opening of a GREAT show (check them out on Facebook or at their website), drink too much, and ultimately make a few awesomely bad decisions.  Oh, and doing it all in style.  We were one good looking bunch.

• Lunching and shopping (more than once) with Ashley!  Heart to hearts with her are always refreshing, and fun!  And we always eat really tasty foods.  This time is was coffee and greek food.  Not together.  But YUM!

• One-on-one time with my favorite Scott.  Wine, movies, and drunk Wii.  A fantastically fun evening.

• Playing "roommates" with Lisa.  When we're together at her place in San Diego, it starts to feel like we're roommates again.  Which is a blast-and-a-half, and a great comfort on this much needed vacation.

• Returning to see my "little brother" in a musical showcase for his school.  Watching him perform is always a joy, but this time, to see him perform in "One" from A Chorus Line, a number my "brother" and I performed just 12 years earlier, brought so much joy to my heart that I couldn't stop smiling.  it made my face hurt. 

So... now it's time to snap back to reality, and get my life going again.

New Year's Resolutions

It's getting to be that time again, when people are coming together for the holidays, eating and drinking to excess, and making up goals to better themselves in the coming year.  There are several ever popular resolutions to make, i.e. lose weight, exercise more, read more, spend less time on the internet, etc.  We are all guilty of them.  I don't know about you, but I have never met a single person who stayed committed to their New Year's resolution past January.  This year will be different.

For the first time that I can remember (maybe in history?) I have a real, no kidding around resolution.  This year, my Gamma (only THE best grandmother in the world) unearthed my Papa's book of recipes.  My aunt has the original, and my mom has a copy.  I made the decision to take it to FedEx Office and have it bound, so that I can give out copies as Christmas gifts.

While researching binding options and pricing, I came across a company that would allow me to actually create a professionally made cookbook.  Through them, I could turn my Papa's recipe book into my own adapted cookbook, complete with pictures of him, and glamor shots of the food.  So, my New Year's resolution is to adapt and cook every recipe (and hopefully persuade my photographer friends to photograph some of them, by enticing them with free meals) and turn it into a beautiful, finished product.  And, as you might have guessed, I'll be blogging about my adventures, a la Julie & Julia, a movie that re-awakened my passion for cooking like never before. 

Papa's nickname for me.  It means "life." Forever emblazoned across my back.  :)

Apparently, Cats Become Stranger With Age...

I have to start this by saying how truly, deeply I love my cat.  I got her and her sister (who passed about two years ago) when I was 8 years old.  When I left for college, my parents decided that the cats now belonged to them, but make no mistake, they're MINE.  Now that I've been at home for a while, my baby has returned to me.  She even sleeps in my closet, reminiscent of Abigail Breslin's line in Raising Helen; "closet smells like Mommy."

This was a bag of tortilla chips.

I should also preface this by explaining to you that her sister was strange from the get go. For example, she ate with her hands, and didn't run with her knees.  And, for a cat, she was obscenely clumsy.  She could jump on a table and slide off the other end.  She would get her claws stuck in the couch while trying to run away.  You could tip her like a cow, and she'd just fall over.  And she ate bread.  To her credit though, she did figure out how to open my bedroom door, which isn't even a lever-style knob.

Strange cat #1: Baguette

Her best impression of an ostrich.

  
Now, at age 16, my other cat has started to exhibit strange behaviors as well.  Maybe she's channeling her sister.  For example:

• She talks more often.  And by more often, I mean pretty much all the time.  Especially when she is displeased.
• I once dropped a small Cheeto right by her foot.  She ate it.
• When she wants to be pet, she comes over, and reaches her paw out and lightly touches you, as if to say "Hey. I'm here now.  Feel free to begin my massage."
• She has tried to climb up my legs (resulting in a very painful puncture wound on my hip) while I'm brushing my teeth.
• She sits on my lap when I'm doing my make-up in the morning (which would be really sweet if it wasn't an attempt to pull me away from whatever I'm doing and focus on her, because she is obviously the most important part of my life).

She even killed a rat (and kindly left it on the floor of our entry way).  She also periodically has what my mother likes to call "a nutty," which basically means she darts around the house as though she's just been given an overdose of intravenous caffeine.

But I can't help it.  I love her adorable little self to pieces.  Even if she is a crazy old lady.

Strange cat #2: Bandit

One of her most favorite sleeping positions.

She's my lil' princess!

Feeling all theatre-y...

Maybe its the weather, maybe its the fact that I am at the final countdown before the holidays... maybe it's the fact that "Singin' in the Rain" (The ULTIMATE movie musical) was on TV last week.  But I'm just in a theatre-y kind of place at the moment.

Now that I have basically finalized my New Year's Eve plans (I will be down in San Diego at the opening of "The Maiden's Prayer" put on by my favorite men over at Triad Productions) I am feeling a little nostalgic.  Remembering my days at SDSU, taking acting classes, and working on shows, and sitting at the ever entertaining benches (where if you stand there long enough you will likely see someone break out in song, a fight scene, or a dance number) makes me wonder why, with so much talent in the world, does no one put on an honest to god movie musical anymore.  They keep trying ("Chicago," "RENT," "Burlesque") but nothing compares to the real deal.


As I've said before, I was brought up in the world of theatre, and I am what they used to call a "triple threat."  I can act, I can dance, and I can sing, because those were almost requirements back when movie musicals ruled the silver screen.  Not so much anymore.  To prove to you that musical theatre, however campy it may be, should be revived, I have supplied you with links!  You will all be converts after watching these, I just know it.

*credit*

A few weeks back, on an episode of (what else?) Glee called "The Substitute," a number of teachers come down with a form of bird flu (all thanks to Sue) and so Mr. Schue's substitute Holly Holliday (played by the magnificent Gwyneth Paltrow) takes over the New Directions.  While she's at McKinley, hipping up the Glee club, Mr. Schue is at home, dreaming himself into his favorite feel better movie "Singin' in the Rain." 

*credit*

Watching him dance around with Mike Chang (Harry Shum, Jr.) was a real treat, and I commend them for sticking as close to the original choreography as possible.  However, as you are about to see, Donald O'Connor is a tough act to follow.  Enjoy!
 

Also, I think tap dancing is a lost art.  It's incredibly difficult (especially to make it look effortless) and when done right, the end result is nothing short of magical!  I give you, Moses Supposes, which can also be seen in "Singin' in the Rain!"

I'm Classy Like That...

So, if you read my last post, you know I'm losing my job.  Sad story, the industry is political, blah, blah, blah.

My bosses have asked me to make a few little notes here and there to pave the way for the new guy.  There's just something about that that rubs me the wrong way.  When I came into this job, they told me what to do, they helped out here and there, but mostly, I had to figure things out for myself.  Thank goodness their last PA had things like their grocery list saved on his computer, and was able to email them to me.  That was a big help.

Keep in mind, I work in an industry where, as my mother would say, "everyone thinks they're curing cancer."  Basically, that means that my job is to make sure that everything goes off without a hitch.  Perfection is expected of me, but as the new guy AND the lowest guy on the totem pole, perfection is impossible.  It's difficult, at times, to cope with the fact that I am not really allowed to screw up, but it is next to impossible NOT to screw up.  Shit happens.  Like parking tickets.  And cops who have nothing better to do than to write a speeding ticket for the last in a line of cars who are also speeding.  Last time I checked, that's called "keeping the flow of traffic."  But I digress...

Back to my original issue.  How come this guy has it easier than I did?  I'm willing to bet that since he's worked with them before, AND he has a penis, he will not catch nearly as much shit as I did when I started.  I mean, these guys were downright rude.  And I played cheerleader, and kept a smile on my face.  'Cause I'm classy like that.

So I wrote down instructions for different tasks.  How to order office supplies online, everything he needs to know about coffee, how to transfer calls on the multi-line phone (it took us about a week to figure it out), how to handle the petty cash envelopes, etc.  It almost felt like I was back in school, and writing my final essay on all of the testable material.  I'm even letting them keep the expandable file I bought to keep the petty cash organized (and separate from my own money).  'Cause I'm classy like that.

I also keep other paperwork organized in a larger expandable file. That I bought.  And it's pretty.  I'm taking that with me.  He can figure out his own filing system.  His boy brain probably works differently than my girl brain, anyway.

Needless to say, I'm feeling bittersweet about this situation (leaning toward the bitter side, if you couldn't tell).  On the up side, I won't have to work for these guys and deal with their ridiculous eccentricities anymore.  Down side, no job, two tickets, and more time spent cooped up at my parents' house.  I can definitely kiss any possibility of attending the premiere goodbye.  I probably won't even get an assistant credit, or special thanks on the film.

I do appreciate the opportunity I had, the learning experience, and of course, the fact that my voice will be part of the ambient sound in the film.  It was an extraordinary first entertainment gig, and in no way do I take it for granted.  'Cause I'm classy like that.