Celebrity Encounters
9 years ago
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Idyll #370 - Signs of Spring?
Comments (101)'bug I do remember that candle scene in the English Patient, very much so. Anthony Minghella passed away too young (54) a few weeks back. Overheard conversation in an upscale nursery yesterday: "Do you have any candles that won't melt in the sun?" The expression on the salesperson's face could best be described as stupefied. She quickly recovered tho and suggested surrounding them in ice chips. Another, less famous, Hollywood screenwriter passed away this week. My brother notified me by email having read the NYT obit, a screenwriter named Abby Mann who wrote Judgment at Nuremberg. I worked for Mr. Mann for about a year, get this, taking screenplay dictation by shorthand in his home off Sunset Blvd. One girl would go in for dictation then leave to type up those notes while another girl cycled in to take dictation, etc. Sometimes there were 3 of us, all of us paid by the studio as part of project development. It was one of my more bizarre jobs, to say the least. Maybe now I can write that expose (kidding!!) He was good friends with Tony Bennett, so my one celebrity encounter was over the phone with Mr. Bennett, about five words. More on the movie front. The Nat'l Geo special on the ports had a preview screening to LA Harbor employees and, sad to say, most of Marty's footage ended up on the cutting room floor. I didn't attend but am told he is seen briefly, barking "Shanghai!" into a radio. It's supposed to air April 6 here so check your local listings if interested. (I was also told it's kinda bo-ring.) Good to hear your mom has been released, Michelle. The revival of your shed thread has been very enjoyable. Any special plans for it this year? There's a book coming out in April, I think called "Shed Style" which might be right up your alley. The pickling really "cools" off the orangey tones in the pine. I'm getting very Scandinavian vibes already. The stencil looks complicated, but I have no doubt Chelone's up to the task. Earlier in the week I dug into the cedar chest filled with fabric remnants, some over 20 years old, pulled out a few, grabbed a beloved shirt, pants, linen vest (probably 15 yrs old!) and took the lot to Nina, my fairy godmother seamstress. She made the first pair of pants for me about a half year ago, when there was nothing to be found in shops except those hig huggers, even for business wear, so I brought an old pair of pants I liked to her, the high-waisted, pleated, baggy kind, with some fabric I'd saved. She sews from the samples you bring, without dismantling the sample. Not that I'm boycotting Chinese seamstresses but enough with the hip huggers already and clothes that fall apart after a couple months of use. Cynthia, you're a good shill for Land's End, lol. I do need some tank tops. Thurs' job started at 7 a.m. at a doc's office, so I found myself alone in a dark, quiet office bldg. Can't use stairs due to amount of stuff I carry, which today also includes a speaker phone in a box. Punch 4th fl on elevator, doors close...and nothing happens. Hit all buttons. Nothing happens. Very hot and stuffy. Hit alarm button. Still nothing. Become flooded with regret over leaving cell phone in car. Just about to hit the red/fire dept button when doors soundlessly open on 3rd floor. Woman enters and sees my face, laughs and says yeah, these elevators are silent and slow. I mention this all later to an atty, who tells me he has no problems with claustrophobia but don't ever get him near the edge of a tall bldg because he will jump. I tell him this happens to me too on the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge, which may not be entirely true but I didn't want him to feel alone in his phobia confession. That's problably enough rambling about nothing much from me. I'm going to make like Bella and find a place to lounge with stuff to read. Temps have cooled into high 60s/70s, which is perfect. Rain possibly on Wed, so they say, but won't be much. Weekend greetings to all, and PM, take a nap!...See MoreCelebrity Sighting!
Comments (80)These stories are fun to read. We have had a few brief encounters, such as being in an elevator with Paul Shafer (from David Letterman show) and having Steve Martin ride past us on his bike in NYC. Also, Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin filmed part of the movie "Housesitters" (I think that's the title) in my office lobby, so I watched them work for a while one day. A couple of summers ago, we were in the Los Feliz area of LA for about an hour, and during that time we had lunch in a diner a few tables away from Sean Hayes (from 'Will & Grace'), saw "Janice" from "Friends" in a store, and ran into Ryan Adams (we are big fans of his music and had just seen him in concert a month earlier... please note I'm talking about Ryan Adams, not Brian Adams!) in Starbucks. My DS (who actually went to the concert with us) was waiting for the men's room and Ryan came out and handed him the key -- DS spoke to him for a couple of minutes, telling him that he had seen him in concert, etc. Ryan was friendly and nice. I was jumping up and down like a fool in front of the Starbucks, waiting for him to come out so I could say something, and he probably saw me -- he went out the back door! In Feb. this year, Mary Louise Parker was at our hotel in Nevis with her kids and nanny. They were at the pool at the same time as us for several days, and had breakfast at the next table one morning. I was completely obsessed with her the whole time she was there. I'm sure she noticed me, but I was too shy to speak to her!...See MoreWho are you?
Comments (150)Let's see if I can get in under the wire. I'm 48, meaning I was sorely tempted to post a picture from 15 years and 25 lbs ago, but in the spirit of honesty that prevades this thread, I'll resist. This was taken by my daughter, who is getting into photography the old-school way - manual focus, film and darkroom. She has to yet to learn critical focus, but for a candid taken during a dinner party, this is okay. At least she didn't photograph the actual chaos of cooking, but merely the tiredness of not eating what you've cooked. As you can see, I don't exactly dress up for my own dinner parties. But I did buy a proper smoking jacket at a vintage store recently, so when I lose enough weight to fit in it without looking like an unshaven velvet sausage, then the standards will be elevated ''chez johnliu''. A native New Yorker, but grew up in France, British Columbia, California, and New Jersey. After getting my degree in mathematics, I gravely disappointed my family by going to law school. For the next 13 years, I was a lawyer, first in San Francisco and then in Los Angeles. Yes, the '80s were ''L.A. Law'' for me, and it was fun. Then it wasn't. There are better things to be than an old, jaded lawyer. So SWMBO and I, and the 6 month old, sold our house and took our savings, and spent the next year traveling around the world. After the best year of my life, I went back to school in the Bay Area, got another degree, and returned to work, sans savings but with now two kids and some great experiences. I've been in financial services for the past decade or so, moved up to Portland a few years ago, and now the 6 month old is starting high school and pestering me to take her to the darkroom. My, where did the time go? I used to have a lot of hobbies, but work and kids have gradually chipped away the fishing, shooting, driving, reading, wrenching, photography and left . . . cooking. Well, there are worse hobbies. And I've left most of my old vices behind too. And here is a picture of SWMBO. Since I'm posting w/out her permission - the family is off on vacation - I will choose a photo from yesteryear that I know she approves of....See MoreWondering if anyone else who works encounters this problem
Comments (28)Ah, the world of work. It's a crazy place. I remember when we had a meeting in a room that had a glass window to the hallway. The snacks for our meeting break were on a table in the hallway, thoroughly covered and wrapped. It was obviously not meant for passersby. During the entire meeting we watched as people walking down the hall helped themselves. At first they just kind of wiggled a finger under the plastic wrap. As that got looser, they went in for a little more. each person unwrapped it further and pretty soon it was a feeding frenzy out there. I was pretty appalled by it, although those of us in the meeting room who were facing the window were in hysterics at the comedy of it all. The people with their backs to the window couldn't understand what we were laughing at. Then when our meeting took a break and went out to eat what was left, we could see people peeking around corners for us to leave so they could swoop in for the remainders. After that we kept the snacks in the meeting room. Frankly I wished things like showers, retirement parties, birthdays, etc. would take place outside of work. They are such time wasters and you feel as if you must participate. I wish no one ever brought doughnuts and cookies and candy to work. It is so hard to resist when you have to walk past it a hundred times a day. Outside of work I would never eat a doughnut, but when I can see and smell them I eat three. And don't get me started on all those people taking up collections for someone;s retirement party, engagement party, wedding party etc. I am sure over all the years of my career I shelled out a thousand dollars or more. I was already married (and divorced!) and had kids when I went to work, so there was no payback. I left when my job was eliminated (and then decided to retire), so there was no goodbye party either. When I worked for a small nonprofit there was no budget for parties. Since I had one of the highest level positions, I felt compelled to buy most of the goodies. Leadership, and all that. Every birthday set me back $50. I'd load up on frozen TJs desserts rather than expensive bakery items. Oh well, I am just glad I don't have to haul myself off to all that craziness again. I like the idea of putting names on each donated items so those who are eating and not donating may feel awkward (but I doubt it)....See More- 9 years ago
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