from my cell phone

Here are some lovely flowers taken by my new cell phone.

New Link

I am not sure if you noticed but I added a new link to my blog. You can find it underneath the link to my email address.

I have started to look for other blogs about Los Angeles that you might find interesting. LA Observed is a blog that I have recently started reading which posts news about Los Angeles.

Lately some of the bigger news here is about the protest and rallies centralizing around the Sesenbrenner Immigration Bill. To make a long story short this Bill would reclassify all illegal immigrants as criminals at large. A lot of the recent post are about this.

My aim in pointing out this blog to you is not to make some sort of political statement, I just tought that maybe some of you might want to know what the other non-celebrity Los Angeles is like.

I will continue to add other Los Angeles based blog addresses down the right hand side of this webpage.

Here aren't the places in my neighborhood

I was asked whether or not I lived close to the famous Chateau Marmont . The Chateau Marmont is a hotel and residence where celebrities like Scarlett Johansson live. Although it is not in my neighborhood per say, it isn't that far. I would say it is in the neighborhood next to mine.

There are many reason's why the Chateau (we are on a first name basis) is famous. One of the more notable is becasue Jim Belushi died there. Many stars have used this hotel as a refuge including Paul Newman, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe and others. The hotel is also located on the famous Sunset Strip most notably depicted in the film "Sunset Boulevard". "Sunset Boulevard" was the first movie about LA that I watched when I got here two months ago. It is a great movie and I recommend seeing it especially if you are hint hint preparing to come see me hint hint.

I have frequented a place across the street the Chateau Marmont called Wacky Waffles. (pictured) I haven't tried the waffles yet. So far I haven't seen Scarlett Jo there either. Something tells me that she hasn't "gone Wacky on the Sunset Strip."

I do live not too far from the Chateau Marmutt which is a dog day care and parlor. I am sure some Hollywood dogs have sought refuge there.

Lost my muse

Since I have been working a lot, I have had a hard time thinking about what to write in my blog. So, if you have any questions for me fire away. I will be happy to answer any and they may give me some ideas on what to visit or write about.

Email me at eyemheer2@yahoo.com

Here are the places in my neighborhood (part 5)

The Kabbalah Center

My theory that Los Angeles is a very mystical place might very well be true.

Los Angeles is home of the very famous Kabbalah Center of Los Angeles where Madonna, Demi, Ashton and others frequent. I do not know too much about the religion, but they do have a free introduction to Kabbalah on Monday nights and online courses.

It isn't very close to where the Scientologists hang out. I think if they were on the same turf they might rumble.

A friendly little poll

VS.

Eventhough Los Angeles is in a warmer climate, people still love their coffee. I figure that there are two types of people in LA; people who like The Coffee Bean and those who like Starbucks. There really isn't another option. You are either one or the other. The Bean and Starbucks both know this too. If you go anywhere in Los Angeles they put these two coffee giants in close proximity to eachother either directly across the street or within a few blocks.

I am a Coffee Bean girl and if I find a Starbucks I will make the 2-5 block journey to find the Bean; even if it is raining and I am wearing bad shoes. The Coffee Bean's Iced Chai Lattes are the closest thing to heaven that I can imagine. They are the perfect blend of chai, milk and vanilla powder. Really. It just tastes like bliss in a cup.

Whereas I think Starbucks Coffee tastes like burnt dirt. Even their lattes come on too strong.

Not to judge, but I am, I think that the people who frequent these two coffee giants are different too. If I were more of a nerd I might write a socio-anthropology paper about it, but I am not that motivated.

Email me at eyemheer2@yahoo.com and let me know if you like the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or Starbucks.

I wonder if anyone at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf will read this and offer me free Chai Lattes for a year. One could dream.

Amendment

A few days ago, I posted a foward I received about Ovarian Cancer. I has since deleted it, since hearing that the information in it isn't necessarily good information. I am now replacing it with a website that offers free testing to low income women if you click on a button on their website. It is very simle to do and please do so as often as you can. Please click here

Winter in Los Angeles

For the rest of my life I will remember this commercial that played during he Minnesota winters.

It is a spoof on Wagner's Opera "The Ring of the Nibelung". In the commercial Brunnehilde lashes forth with her mighty sword and sings to the tune of "The Ride of the Valkyries" .....

"Velcome to Vinter, in Minnesotah, here is your fuel bill..ha..ha..ha..ha"

In Minnesota there is a marked change of seasons. You know that it is spring becasue there is nothing but mud everywhere. You know that it is summer because it is so humid that when you go outside it feels like, to quote my Dad,"you jumped in a jar of mayo" In Minnesota there is no question whether or not winter is upon you. By far my favorite season in Minnesota is the Fall, but even that is very definate. Not only do the leaves change and fall gracefully to the ground, but fall smells so different from any other season.

This has lead me to ask...

"Exactly what happens in winter in Los Angeles?"

The answer to my question was that it rains. As many of you know, I have been here over a month and in that time, it has rained six times. I am not sure if that is normal, but it definately is no winter I have ever been familiar with.

Who I saw over the weekend

This weekend I saw:

Joel Murray . You may know him as Bill Murray's younger brother. He also co-starred on Dharma and Greg. I was fortunate to see him at IO West (formerly Improve Olympic). IO West is a famous Improv place where a lot of actors and Saturday Night Live members get their start. They also have IO in Chicago and if you ever have the chance to go, you should. I promise that you will laugh.

I also saw Ian Ziering who was on 90210.

eye m a stranger heer miselph

I received this book as a gift from my Secret Santa in my book club in Minneapolis. I don't think that I could have found a book title more perfect for my adventure out west. Because I do feel like a stanger here sometimes. There are little things out here that make me feel different. Like the way that I talk-My boyfriend and roomate love it when I say "soup", how absolutely ecstatic I am when the sun is out, how shocked I am about how much of a pain in the a@@ it is to recycle here and I think that I am the only person who will walk nine blocks to the grocery store. People in Los Angeles love to drive- see L.A. Story as an example.

After saying all that, I love it here.

"I'm a Stranger Here Myslef" by Bill Bryson is a collection of essays about his life in the U.S. after being away for 20 years. Mainly this book is commentary on how the culture of the U.S. has changed since he left, how absurd Dental Floss hotlines are, how blinded you can be by choice and his technology woes. His essay about doing your taxes is particulary funny, you should read it by April 15th.

If you want to laugh, because so much of what is out there to read right now is so "gloom and doom", pick up this book. I think we as people of this culture have really lost the ability to laugh at ourselves; it isn't until we learn that less people are injured by guns in England then are sent to the emergency room for being injured by bedding here in the U.S, that we realize how silly everything is.

Note to Author: I am sorry that I did not submit this review to you beforehand as stated in rule#27 in your chapter called "Rules for Living". I hope you accept my review as purely amatuer and not significant in any literary circle.

I can see your aura

One thing about Los Angeles is that there is no shortage of Thai restaurants, strip malls and phychics. I guess that LA is a very mystical place.

I mention this because I was given a card from a phychic who said that she would love to a do a reading on me becasue she is getting strong spiritual energy from me.

The thing is that she was not the first person to say such a thing to me. My question is do I take that as a compliment and move on or do I start my own physic studio and use my untapped powers? I see that there is vacancy a couple blocks down in a strip mall next to a Thai place that would be a perfect place to set up shop.

Oscar Night

Doesn't it seem like the movie choices from year to year get worse and worse? I can say that 2005 was probably one of the worst years for film. It seemed like it was the year of the remake or sequel. (Come on, who really needed to see Cheaper by the Dozen 2) There wasn't one movie that came out last year that I was truly excited to go and see. With that being said, the movies that are nominated tonight are the best of 2005 and I cannot even begin to figure out who is going to win the prize. For those of you who are going to have an Oscar party tonight, if you'd like you can print an Oscar ballot and play along click here and go to printable ballot.

My dream picks are:
Best Actor Leading- Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress Leading- Reese Witherspoon (although it will probably be Felicity)
Best Documentary- March of the Penguins

As a side note, I can't believe that "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" is an Oscar nominated song.

Have fun and let me know if you will be coming this way for the Oscars next year. I am trying to get the skinny from a friend of mine who is interviewing on the red arpet tonight. Hopefully the movies in 2006 aren't as bad as 2005.

Employed

I never thought that I would be able to say that word again. Employed. I am very happy to be working. I wish that I can describe to you what it is like and tell you all who read this where I work, but here is the one rule all bloggers must and should abide by:

NEVER TALK ABOUT WORK ON YOUR BLOG.

Why do you ask? Because people have been fired for writing about work in their blog. Good or bad things, it just doesn't matter. Writing about work in your blog goes against the confidentiality clause you sign in your employee handbook.

So, just know that I love it so far, the people are great and I know that in the long term I am going to be very happy there. I work with someone from Minnesota. (What a small world)

I'll write people individually soon about the details. I know some of y'all are reading, but haven't dropped me a hello. If you want to be included in the details please email me at eyemheer2@yahoo.com

P.S. The afore mentioned sending of an informational email only includes friends and family