Last man on earth

A friend of mine sent me this picture from her trip up to Oregon with her husband. I've never been there, but think that I may have to venture up that way sometime. It looks beautiful. I have a feeling I'd like that part of the country...lots of nature, ocean, and photo opps galore.



I also finally watched "I Am Legend" on DVD. Aside from the creepy transformed humans, it was a really cool film to watch. I am amazed at how well they were able to use location shooting in New York and, with all of the people that were obviously in the area while filming, find a way to make a city of that size look empty and overgrown. The production team did an amazing job!

It's actually a little disturbing to watch and to think about the possibility of something like that actually happening. It's not that far-fetched, given all of the discourse in the world and access to weapons that people have these days.

Let's hope that we never have the opportunity to find out what it would really be like first-hand.

Oh, the news

In the past few years, I've made a conscious effort to avoid most regular news outlets. Every local newscast is fraught with "Family cooked in microwave....footage at 11:00" and "Everything you eat can kill you....coming up at 11:00". I usually try to just check CNN online to get a quick glimpse of what is going on in the world, just in case I miss something substantial.

This is the list of "Latest News" links featured on the home page on CNN today:

Dead thrown into rivers; living wait for aid
Epic scale of disaster becomes clear
Nearly 100 arrested in university sting
Sect's 'Messiah' arrested on sex charges
Cheney's chief of staff subpoenaed
Spears' visitation with sons expanded
Massive manhunt for pedophile suspect
6-ft. silvery slide boils, fries, bakes

No wonder people are afraid to leave their homes and, when they do, they end up carrying weapons.

I just don't need to focus my energies on all of the negativity and horrors going on daily. Would it hurt them to try to put at least one positive news story for people to cling to for some glimmer of hope at least once in a while? Honestly, Ethel!

So, I tend to just focus on Entertainment and Travel information, if I need a news fix. Although, entertainment isn't always positive, at least it's usually focused on someone pretty or interesting.

I know that many people were watching "Oprah" on Friday and Monday because the crazy couch-jumper, Tom Cruise, was on. I didn't see either part, mainly because I don't like watching him on interview shows anymore. He tends to just smile his way through them, rarely says anything new and he always has this vacant look in his eyes...it's uncomfortable to watch. However, I saw this clip of his "number one fan" on the show and her reaction to just hearing his name cracks me up:



Plus, Oprah doing her show in a white bathrobe...what's up with that? She's got all the money..so can certainly afford a nice floral kaftan or two if she's gonna surprise suburban moms in their homes. I just like the hysterical reaction that the woman makes...it's like she's being shocked from behind.

Speaking of being shocked, this is still my favorite clip of Tom Cruise "shocking" Oprah on that infamous day:



Now THAT is what I think really goes on a lot in the world of Cruise....oh, the hilarity.

Uma, Oprah. Oprah, Uma.

Speaking of number one fans, it appears that Uma Thurman's crazy stalker was finally convicted this week in court.

She testified about a card Jordan delivered to her movie trailer in lower Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood. It bore a drawing of an open grave, a headstone and a man standing on the edge of a razor blade. A spiral of random words referred to "chocolate, mouth, soft, kissing" and declared, "My hands should be on your body at all times."

The defendant explained the drawing this way:

"I felt I was walking on the razor's edge," Jordan said. "I felt that it reflected this relationship that I unfortunately imagined that we had. ... This cartoon was meant to amuse her, to endear me to her."

Yeah...I'm sure that Uma was so amused and endeared that she shuffled him right up to the top of her Christmas card list.

As John Gielgud once said to Liza Minnelli in the movie "Arthur"......"Good luck in prison."

And, speaking of prison....don't forget that this Sunday is Mother's Day. So, get those cards, flowers, and boxes of candy ready for yo' mommas.

She'll be glad you did.

A super weekend

I saw a couple of good movies this weekend...



"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is very funny! I was howling at times (which I'm sure everyone around me appreciated) and, for me, that is well worth the ever-rising admission prices these days. It's about a regular guy who gets dumped by his famous girlfriend (she's a sexy detective on one of those "CSI-type" crime shows), so he decides to get away to Hawaii to get his mind off of it. But, guess who's there with her new boyfriend when he gets there? No, not Pinky Tuscadero....his ex.

I bet you never expected that, did you?

Even if you did, it's still chock-a-block full of hilarity and fun, so add it to your list of public outings.




I also saw "Iron Man", which for some reason, I keep telling people I saw "The Rocketeer" or "Iron Giant". Similar titles, but very different movies. If you're an action movie fan, then you'll definitely want to see this movie on a big screen. The story is good, Robert Downey Jr. does a great job and the effects and action sequences are top notch. Plus, it was nice to see Jeff Bridges in a movie...it's been a while.



I saw it at the Arclight theater in Hollywood, where they featured one of the "Iron Man" costumes in the lobby. It was pretty cool up close and I, along with the rest of the Hollywood riff-raff hanging out, were taking cell-phone pics as soon as we saw it (I wish I had remembered to bring my regular camera...cell pics just don't turn out as good).

Being a comic book fan, it's always exciting to see a well-produced and acted superhero movie. So often, they turn out to be cheesy messes ("Fantastic Four" or "Catwoman", anyone?) or just a CGI showcase (Something the last "Hulk" movie and, from the trailers, the upcoming "Hulk" movie appear to share). But, every once in a while, they get it right (the latest "Batman" film, the "X-Men" movies).



Debra Winger as "Wonder Girl"...a successful career (and likely new agent) soon follows.

Production values and effects have advanced so far now, that they can almost do anything. How times have changed. I used to watch all the superhero TV shows when I was a kid..."Batman", "Wonder Woman", "Isis", "Shazam", "The Flash"...even "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl". When you look at them now, they are so much cheesier than you remember, but still fun to watch for a quick stroll down memory lane. At the time, those shows were IT...they were hip/cool and worth scarfing down two bowls of Quisp in front of.

Then I remembered a 70's TV special called "Legend of the Superheroes", a primetime special with several of the popular TV heroes of that time, including Burt Ward and Adam West as Batman and Robin and one of the only live-action inclusions of the one comic book I actually collected...Green Lantern. Looking at it now, it feels like a completely different show and planet. I don't remember it having a laugh track...it was a variety show-type comedy and featured Ed McMahon? Well, if you watch this clip...you'll see what I mean.



Any show that features Ruth Buzzi making an entrance carried in by two body builders in speedos and superheroes collecting a much-needed paycheck, really is must-see TV!

Leave the light on for me

I just read this article from USA Today about the Motel 6 chain...

More chic than cheap. That might be the new motto of Motel 6, which aims to redefine what it means to stay in an inexpensive roadside motel. Think flat-screen TVs, granite bathroom countertops and other amenities not commonly associated with budget chains.

Motel 6's first major makeover in a dozen years is not designed to alter its basic appeal — or price. The chain has grown over 45 years by promising highway travelers a clean room, free morning coffee and HBO at a low rate. Despite looking more upscale, Motel 6 will continue its low-rate strategy; cost of an average room last year was $45.26.

After looking into traveling by trailer and thinking about all the variables that would go into that (plus the price to buy one), I also wanted to look into how much it might cost to just stay in budget hotels. I'd rather not drag my shower and toilet behind me for a year, so if I was able to stay in budget hotels, they would already be there for me in each room and someone else would have to clean them.

That sound so much nicer...

I'm going to look into what it would take for me to get some kind of possible sponsorship of a hotel chain corportaion like Accor. They own several worldwide hotel chains from budget to extravagant. They also have Motel 6 locations in every state, which would work out perfectly for me.

If I can offer them something of worth in exchange, perhaps I can get them to comp me a room in each city (perhaps writing articles for them about each hotel, giving feedback on each location, doing "mystery shopping" reports on customer service in each hotel, etc). There is bound to be something of value I could do to make them waive $46/day.

Minds out of the gutter people....

I already thougth of that anyway.

Lots of options....

I'm not a camper

But I'm thinking about becoming one...

While I was traveling in Australia and New Zealand, it made me think about the fact that I've not seen all that much of the United States. So, I've been considering a possible year-long trip across each of the states and what my options would be to do something like that. I could just pack a bag, hop in my car and hit the road...but then I have to factor in cost of hotels/food/gas and car upkeep.

I'd prefer doing it that way, but that could be pricey for 365 days.

Then I started looking in to buying a used camper (rather than staying in hotels) and how that might be a way to minimize my budget. Over the course of a year, that could really cut down on the cost of accomodations. Plus, some of the newer campers (like the Airstream Bambi I'm featuring today), have a halfway decent bed, shower/bathroom and even a desk area wired for technology.





They're like iPod campers.

However, back to the main part of my concern.

I don't camp.

I like the idea of camping (seeing scenery/traveling around to remote areas/nature), but the reality (pulling and parking the beast daily, maintaining along the way, not to mention dealing with my own toilet and hooking stuff up)...that is another story. Plus, the idea of my apartment swinging around behind me as a potential battering ram to anyone on the road is a bit intimidating.

I don't like tent camping (hello...critters!), but I could get along fine in something like this particular model. It would probably cost about as much to find a used one of these as it would be to just stay at a budget hotel in each city along the way. I could certainly get an older model airstream for around $10k or less, but do I want the additional burden of a used trailer that has been knocked about and pooped-in-by-others over the years?

Not so much...

Could I do it? Absolutely. Could it make for some interesting writing material and potential comedic moments? Without a doubt.

Do I trust myself hooking up gas, electricity, and waste properly along the way so that I'm not a daily fire hazard or traveling petri dish?

What do you think?

I need to do a lot more research and soul-searching...

Danger Will Robinson!

While looking for a pic online, I came across this site that builds/sells robots based on the original "Lost In Space" TV show. I used to love that show and thought, one day when I'm rich, I'd make the Jupiter Two spaceship my pool house in the mansion that I'd obviously own with my unlimited income. Since that hasn't happened yet...it would still make an excellent Christmas gift.

And, for only $24,000...it should make shopping for me much easier this year for one of you lucky people.

Or, if that is too pricey...the Christmas card version of Dr. Smith from the photo on the bottom of this post will also do. I still laugh hard every time I look at it.

Well, I am caught up on all, but one, of my backlog of TV shows on the DVR. I still have four episodes of "Boston Legal" (and a new one tonight), which I'm saving to watch with my roommate. Since he's so busy and not as TV-centric as I am, I just save the good shows that we both like ("30 Rock", "The Office" and "Boston Legal") for a TV night. It makes for a fun evening of laughing out loud, liquid-shooting-through-the-nose, rewind-that-again viewing.

The others, I get through on my own...



Grey's Anatomy

This is a show that I should like a lot more than I do. It's a show written by a woman, featuring a pretty good mix of actors and, more than surgeries, focuses on relationships. However, I didn't like it when it premiered and that should have stopped me there. I thought all of the characters were so unlikeable and annoying, that I didn't start watching it again until a year later when everyone at my office kept saying "You have to watch it...it's so good now."

So I tried again...and got hooked.

It had a pretty good year, then slowly went to Hell from there. I used to like several of the characters enough to get through disliking the main Grey character. Her character was so whiny and made so many unrealistic choices that I kept hoping some kind of large object would fall down and McCrush she and McDreamy.

I still wish that. But, now I want the object to be large enough to take out most of the cast and writing staff.

Izzy used to be good/interesting to watch...then they had her fall in love with George randomly in one episode...eliminating any sympathy for her character or the other character I really liked, until that storyline...Torres. I liked Torres because she constantly pointed out exactly what I thought about the main characters...they were so self-absorbed, pretty mean and not very nice to hang around. Then, the writers made Torres just as dramatic and unlikeable as the rest.

Now, the only character that keeps me watching at this point is Bailey.



She and the actress who plays her are great and feature the only cast member with any kind of realism, personality and humanity that merits screen time. If they'd only give her a bit more to do in each episode.

After last week's stupid episode about "the contest" and watching the three main gals treating patients with absolutely no sliver of realism (Grey actually exclaimed with glee "Oh...TUMOR" in front of a man who ended up having one that was going to kill him), it's gonna be difficult for them to keep me watching another season.

Unless they get rid of the annoying characters and just call it "Bailey's Anatomy" or "My Vajay-jay".



Lost

As confusing and complicated as this show becomes each year...I am hooked. After watching six episodes in a row yesterday, I am not about to drop this show anytime soon.

Now, that in mind, a part of me also thinks that the only way to keep anyone, but an avid fan, watching this show is by just showing several episodes in a row over a series of days. It's so complicated that, I think, people who miss one episode just get frustrated and stop watching. If they made "Lost" a mini-series each year and just played the entire season over the course of one week (a couple hours a night), I think they might be able to keep people involved.

All that being said, if you are a fan of this show, this is a great season!

I am constantly amazed at how well-planned and thought-out this show is. To be able to plot out flashbacks and flashforwards, while also focusing on the present, is unprecidented and very smart. It's like watching three different series, with the same cast, all rolled into one. I don't know how they do it, but I'm gonna keep watching.

Unless they air a very special episode called "The Harlem Globetrotters on Lost".

Then, I might be done.

Ms. Griffin, if you're nasty

I caught up on "Out in Hollywood" and read a quick interview with Kathy Griffin, where she discusses her upcoming season of "My Life on the D-List"...

This year, it's ridiculously gay. I do a gay cruise in Bora Bora, I perform on Pink flight which is an all-gay flight between San Francisco and Sydney for Gay Mardi Gras, I do the Bearfest with the boy bears. I mean, it's good stuff this year.

As some of you know, one of the many reasons I ended up on that Pink Flight to Sydney, was because I came across an ad for Kathy Griffin being in Bora Bora (too pricey for me, then I saw the ad for the Pink Flight). I also spoke to Kathy at the Burbank airport the day they were all flying up to film at the IBR "Bearfest" (I was heading up to the same event to meet with some friends). It was a nice surprise to see her there and she was just as nice as I hoped she would be in person, which is always a relief.

I think I managed to stay out of camera range for both events...but you never know.



The new season of her show starts on June 12th...I can't wait!

I spent part of yesterday catching up on a few more shows on the DVR. I'm in the middle of the past month of "Lost" (my DVR missed 3 episodes, so I have to watch them online), but did get through all of the "ER" episodes.



I know this show has been on a million years and seems to update the cast with a new member every few episodes, but overall...it is still pretty good TV. I think I mainly watch it for Maura Tierney, who plays Abby Lockhart. Of all the characters on the show now, she seems to be the most real and relatable to me. There is a vulnerability in her that pulls me in whenever she's featured.

The other cast members are fine, but each season it gets harder and harder to stick with the show because so many of the new cast members brought in are "types" (new sexy doctor or nurse) and, like a lot of shows, most of the cast seems to just sleep with each other...which gets old and kinda stupid to watch.

But, as long as Dr. Lockhart is there...I will be too.

Well, well, well...it's also someone's birthday today...



Leslie "Beverly Leslie" Jordan is 53 years old today.

Here is a preview of his upcoming TV show, "Sordid Lives" on LOGO...

Flipper, Flipper...faster than lightning

This day at Sea World should have scarred a few hundred kids for life...

A 30-year-old dolphin at Sea World has died after colliding with another dolphin while performing aerial tricks, the Orlando, Florida, amusement park said Monday.

I only do aerial tricks alone for that very reason.

My first weekend back was a busy one. I met some friends out at a bar on Friday night, then a birthday party for another friend in Laguna Beach on Saturday (the night of hellish traffic) and then out for beer bust at a bar all day/night on Sunday. It was good to be out and about with people after traveling alone for the past couple of months.

I had a somewhat horrifying experience on Friday night (well, personally anyway).

At the bar, I noticed a guy who looked familiar, someone I had thought I had spoken with a couple times quite a few years ago. I remembered his face/smile (he looks like a younger Benjamin Bratt) and he recognized me too. We hung out (along with our friends) for most of the evening. His friend kept making references about us having relations and whether it was good or not. My new friend said "I don't remember it being bad", which I thought was nice of him, because we had just met again and obviously hadn't related in any way other than seeing each other tonight. I thought it was sweet that this cute guy was playing along with his friend and giving me a "good review". Don't get those too often...

Next day, I was talking on the phone with him and he made a reference about how he had forgotten that I was a good kisser (he had walked me to my car the night before). I said "forgotten I was a good kisser....have we kissed before?" and he said "You really don't remember? I said...No, I honestly don't". He then proceeded to tell me that we had, in fact, gone out a couple times about 9 years ago. He described my apartment at the time, my car, he remembered me showing him my, at the time, cherished Brooke Shields collection of magazine covers (it's was a long time ago and I was very young) and several other specific details that I had no recollection of.

At all.

I was and am horrified that I don't remember any of it.

I've never done drugs or had a drinking problem (I drink, I fall down, no problem), I've not really dated that many people and have always prided myself on being able to at least remember the ones that I have...especially if they were as cute as he was.

But...nothing.

I can't explain it and, after a few long conversations and several varieties of apologies later (hoping he didn't take it personally..of course, how couldn't you)...all seems fine and I think I'll be taking him to dinner soon to make up for it.

If I remember....

If anyone has seen my brain, would you please drop it in the mail to me?

I'd really appreciate it.

LA Traffic is ASS

This was something that I did NOT miss while traveling.

I was heading home from a birthday party tonight and traffic was moving along fine, until I saw a sign that said "3 Right Lanes Closed Ahead". THREE? On a Saturday night? There are only 4 lanes total. I remained calm and, when I noticed another freeway that branched off, heading east, I decided to take that. I moved along for about 15 minutes and decided to get on the 101 freeway and head home through Hollywood.

The two lanes that led onto that....stopped. Not moving. GREAT!

Got out of that, back on the previous freeway and headed further east and got on the 5 Freeway. All was fine until I got onto the entry lane....barely moving. It took a half hour to get 1 mile and then I saw another sign "4 Left Lanes Closed Ahead". FOUR?! There are only 5 total. After coasting along at a swift 5 mph for another half hour, I had to take ANOTHER freeway even further east to the 134 to get home another half hour later.



I think this is a picture of the man who schedules all of the road construction on our freeways.

At the meeting this week, I'm sure he said (through both cheeks) "We need to do some construction...why not just do it all on the weekends, when 90 % of the people in LA will be on the roads? If we're gonna screw up traffic on one freeway, why not do some kind of construction on all of them at the same time?!"

And the city wonders why road rage is on the upswing around here.

Dumbasses.

Hancock and Baby Mama

These movies look really funny! I love me some Will Smith and Tina Fey...

Tube talk two

Well, I'm still catching up on stuff after being away for two months. Pretty much up to speed on mail, laundry, bills and getting my car tuned up. So, it was another day of surfing through the many hours (about 15-20) of TV on the DVR.



Men In Trees (day two)

I had three more episodes to watch and, like all the others, I loved them. Besides what I've said already, I really love the way the show is shot/edited...the scenery is so beautiful. The show is shot in/around Vancouver, mainly in a town called Squamish. I found a link to someone who went to the location on a trip and it looks like a beautiful place (reminds me of New Zealand). I may have to add that to my list of places to visit.

I do hope the show gets renewed for another season. It's really a sweet/good-natured show and I really like a lot of the characters, especially the gal that plays Anne Heche's agent and her new husbank "plowguy". The show does a really good job of giving each of the supporting characters nice storylines and screentime, which is rare for a show with a cast of this size.

It's like taking a mini-vacation each week from my couch with some mighty fine folks.



Desperate Housewives

I've mainly been watching this show out of habit and find, the past couple of years, that it's usually the last show I catch up on. I really liked the first season because it was more serious/moody and reminded me, a bit, of "Twin Peaks" with the mystery about the gal that killed herself and all of that. Plus, the characters were fun/interesting...but somewhat grounded in reality.

That has all gone out the window now and it's just become a wacky show, with characters that do stupid/silly stuff all the time and who, for the most part, are often so self-centered (and not in a funny "Seinfeld" way) that I can't imagine anyone ever really hanging out with any of them.

It makes a Spanish telenovela look like Shakespeare in comparison.

Even the character of Lynette (the character that seemed the most realistic) does mean/hurtful things at times to get what she wants. It's disappointing and I'm not sure that I'll keep watching it after this season. We'll see...

Although, the tornado episode and the one that followed it were fun to watch.



Brothers and Sisters

I love this show too. I've liked it from the beginning and haven't missed an episode. It reminds me of some of the older shows I really enjoyed, "thirtysomething", "Once and Again", "My So Called Life" and a couple others. Shows about people, often with real people-problems. Many folks refer to these kinds of shows as "Whiner shows"...people just moaning about their problems.

But, to me, that is life and what makes shows like these very relatable and enjoyable.

I've always liked Sally Field (she did "Sybil", one of my favorite TV movies ever) and, like always, she's great on this show too. The whole cast is wonderful. Rachel Griffiths (I've loved her since "Muriel's Wedding" and, recently, on "Six Feet Under"), Ron Rifkin (so good on "Alias") and even Patricia Wettig (from "thirtysomething")...and everyone else.

I think the writing is sharp, it's beautifully shot and, more often than not, is able to pull on the heartstrings at least once an episode (or more). I used to love "Ally Mcbeal" (well, at least the first few seasons, until it started going way over the wacky-zone), so I enjoy Calista Flockhart...but she's not the reason I watch.

I watch it for the whole package. Like "Men in Trees", it makes me laugh, smile, and cry at times.

That's not a bad thing.

I've still got to catch up on "ER", "Lost", and "Boston Legal".

So much TV, so few hours in the day.

Australian spider invasion

Thanks to Andy, at Towleroad, I now have another reason not to go to Queensland or their hospital...

SYDNEY (AFP) - An invasion of venomous spiders has forced an Australian hospital to evacuate patients and temporarily close its doors, reports said Wednesday.

Authorities decided the infestation of redback spiders at Baralaba Hospital in Queensland state's Banana Shire was too dangerous for patients, Australian Associated Press reported.
It said repeated attempts to oust the arachnids had failed, so patients and staff would be moved to another facility to allow a thorough fumigation of the 10-bed hospital.

You can see the rest of the story here, if you don't already have enough material for your nightmares.

Happy thoughts...happy thoughts....