Thursday, April 28, 2005

Welcome to the 21st Century

I had read that this was coming, but wasn't expecting it so soon. Since the company I work for is expanding and my position did not exist before last week, they had to order me a new computer. It is a wonderful laptop, smaller and about half the weight of my one at home with the most current applications, some of which are new to me. But it doesn't have a disk drive. A disk drive! What we save our work on! Well, not anymore, I guess. I haven't actually saved work to a disk for any purpose other than transporting it from work to home and back, or from job to job, but that's exactly what I had planned to do today. I am drafting this huge proposal, and wanted to refer to some other good ones I had written, all of which are saved to various disks that I purposely brought in to work today. Oh well. I can still access the stuff at home and email it to myself here. It's just so funny that now a DVD player and wireless access card are standard fare and I can't even insert a disk. Certainly a change from my last job where I was working off of Windows 95 (slight exaggeration, but not really).



Wednesday, April 27, 2005

You know you've been in LA too long when

... you dream that you are best friends with Bennifer. (Bennifer of '02-'03, that is). I had a dream last night that I was somewhere that Jennifer Lopez was, and she was cheating on Marc Anthony with Ben Affleck. For some reason, she was asking me what she should get Ben for his birthday. She wanted to give him cash, but I was trying to talk her out of it, saying that it was too impersonal. Her reply was that despite appearances, he was really on the verge of bankruptcy and could use the money. I said, well, its up to you, and then couldn't figure out why she even wanted my opinion. Then, we were at a party, and she brought Ben over to introduce me and my friends. He was nice but curt. Then I noticed that she was slightly preggers, and I wished her luck.
Food for thought: How is it that my few celebrity sightings since I've been here (Jen and Marc, Speedy) all seem to be six degrees of separation of Jennifer Garner?

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Monday, April 25, 2005

Back to Reality

For the first time in my adult life, I am not working for a crazy person. Seriously, I think every boss I had in NYC was certifiable - which, in NYC, was a good thing, since that's how you made it to the top. The couple that run my office and the company are so white bread normal, I wonder if maybe they think I'M crazy. They are calm, and smart, and concerned about what I might think. They are friendly and smile. And mean it. Was this a first-day facade? I hope not. They actually took me out to lunch.

In terms of atmosphere, I upgraded about 1000%. I have a brand new laptop computer, in my own office with furniture I got to choose. Oh, and we each get to choose what color we want our walls painted (well, one wall - the others stay white although we each also have a wall of exposed brick, which I love). I am choosing some blend of peach or orange. We also each get to choose what color logo we want on our business cards. (I chose pink). I have more file cabinets than I've ever had, so I can actually file things. And colored folders!. I LOVE colored folders!

My first task for the next two weeks is to develop a comprehensive PR and marketing strategy that encompass each leg of the brand: retail, hotel, direct, and god knows what else. Oh, and I am also going to Phoenix on Friday for a party they are throwing at their Scottsdale store. I am really excited about that, not only for sake of going to Phoenix, but to meet my favorite editor EVER who works at the Tribune and who I have spoken to on the phone for five years and has saved my ass a million times BUT HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY MET. Love you, Smiddlesteadt.

It'll be a quick trip. Leave Friday afternoon, come back first thing on Saturday. We fly out of Burbank airport, which will be a nice change from LAX. Especially on a Friday afternoon. I did the 405 this past Friday afternoon on the way down to Huntington Beach, and was ready to throw myself in the traffic. Not that it would have done anything, since the traffic wasn't moving. But you get the point.



Friday, April 22, 2005

Andy from Apprentice update

Right before I moved, I blogged here about seeing Andy from the second season of the Apprentice on a flight from NYC to Chicago with one of the Donald's employees. Well, the new issue of Star magazine confirms that Andy is the newest member of the Trump organization:
"Season 2 'loser' Andy Litinsky, 23, fired for his inability to defend himself in the boradroom, was rehired by Donald Trump two months ago! 'He gave me a call and offered me a position,' Andy tells Star. The Harvard grad is a projects manager working on Trump's far-flung real estate developments."

Andy isn't the only one with a new job. As I was writing this, I got a call from the beauty company and I got a job! I start on Monday.

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Thursday, April 21, 2005

To date, the most deserving of the title, “Only in LA, kids, only in LA”

Today I ran the Santa Monica stairs. Well, ran may be overstating it. I “did” the Santa Monica stairs is more accurate. The stairs are kind of an underground-but-well-known-by-locals/masochists/exercise bulimics workout spot, and consist of two sets of stairs (170 and maybe 230 per set) running up and down a steep cliff in an otherwise-quiet oceanside neighborhood in Santa Monica. Dooce was a fan, and this website gives a good overview of this LA institution.

I actually only did one set of the stairs – I couldn’t find the other, even though it is supposedly close by. I did the set with 170. 170 crickety, creakedy wooden stairs attached to the side of a cliff, punctuated in the middle with a few concrete stairs for good measure. Because I don’t need to give my mother anything else to worry about. Four laps up and down, then a walk around the block. Two laps up and down, then a walk back to my car for my towel and water. Two more laps up and down, for a total of 2720 stairs, 1360 of those being uphill. By the end my legs were wobbling and I was gasping for breath, but it was really quite energizing. Walking back to my car, I truly felt inspired to go for a run, if only I thought my legs wouldn’t collapse out from under me.

To get there, I took San Vicente through Brentwood and Santa Monica, which I hadn’t done before. Similar to Park Avenue, the blvd is a wide street with beautiful homes separated by a grass median. But in true SoCal style, the median has a runner’s path that goes all the way down, catering to the many fitness buffs in this city. In keeping with the culture’s unwritten church-and-state workout laws, there was also a separate bike path. Further proof that I am truly in heaven.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Interviews, schminterviews

Monday: Beauty company. Totally qualified (possibly over qualified).
Tuesday: Shoe company. Second interview. Qualified or not, I think they like me, but wouldn't know since they still haven't asked for my salary requirements or references.
Wednesday: PR firm that does NO fashion or beauty, and very little consumer media outreach at all. WHY exactly did they want to meet with me? Met a very nice woman but really, WHY? Did she not read my resume?
Frustrated much?

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Monday, April 18, 2005

One month anniversary and Scott Speedman update

A month ago today I moved here. Let's reflect on how much I have done in one month:
- Seven interviews (by Wed it will be nine) and those don't count the two I came on in Feb
- I bought a car. I BOUGHT A CAR. I AM DRIVING A CAR. That is more change in one day than I had in seven years. AND, I somehow seem to know where I am going!
- Apt went from Ted's bachelor pad to my little nest. Almost furnished.
- I have gone out more in the past month than I did in three in NYC
- I bought a drill. And used it.
- Signed up for a crappy gym. Found a supermarket that takes double coupons. Discovered the joys of bulk shopping at Target. Made friends with the neighbors. Ran on the beach (twice); rollerbladed on the beach once.
- Had some decent celeb sightings - J. Lo, Marc Anthony, Denise Richards, and Scott Speedman.

Which brings me to my next item. Apparently a couple of Scott Speedman fans discovered this site, and asked for more details about the run in. Not that there are many, but it was at The Other Room, a bar on Abbott Kinney Blvd. in Santa Monica. He was hot, really hot. His guy friends were hot too, and if I had any game at all I would have made friends but I don't. Have game that is. He was just really animated and friendly, talking to a number of people in the bar - some who he came with and some who I think were just being friendly (read: girls who have more game than me). His hair was kind of long, maybe just to the ears, but not shaggy and not like I have seen it at times. He just kept smiling his signature grin. I didn't think much about it or him until I got these emails today and checked out this site: www.scottspeedmanshomecourt.com. Not bad. Suddenly I'm like a teenager again, only the objects of my affection are not Kirk Cameron or Jack Wagner (hi, 80's) in Teen Beat, but Mr. Yummy himself on the internet. How times have changed (not so much really).

Had a good interview today for an in-house PR manager position with a beauty company. If the money is right, it is PERFECT, except for the fact that the company is located in Pasadena. It took me 35 minutes door-to-door, and that was without any traffic. Tomorrow I have a second interview with the shoe company, and I am also going to the DMV to get my Cali license. Might as well make it official. Wednesday I am supposed to go to San Pedro, but I am going to cancel on that because I now have an interview with a PR company up here, and I really don't want to be doing sports marketing - even on a freelance basis.

Looking forward to Month 2!

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Monday, April 11, 2005

Week 4 Begins

Which means it has been about 6 weeks that I have been unemployed. Not that I am not working. I wrote an interesting bio for an 11-year old mini-Beyonce this weekend, and a good one for a TV producer/director last week. But oh, my days would welcome some structure with open arms. Structure has lately consisted of going to the beach for a run or a skate, after I exhaust my online searches and random leads.

I actually spent about an hour on the phone today with a guy who does some search engine marketing and is looking for someone to spearhead a sports marketing campaign for one of his clients. He for some reason thinks I may be the one to do it, so I set up a meeting with him for Thursday. His office is about 40 minutes south in San Pedro, so I'd have to be a masochist to even consider working there, but hey, I have nothing to do on Thursday, and maybe I could get some freelance work in the meantime. He said that most of the employees were satellite, so as long as I don't take on anything full time, I could still continue to work out of my dining room.

I also got a call today from a position I applied to at - get this - It Girl PR - but I think the position offered is below me, and I probably only submitted my resume in the hopes that a supervisor position opens up. The girl asked me a lot of questions about my background, and was positive, until I mentioned my salary requirements, at which point she said she would call me back about setting up an interview. Well, that's what I get for applying to positions I am overqualified for.

I am having lunch with Brandy tomorrow, a girl I worked with VERY briefly at Behrman, and now does marketing out here. She mentioned that she knows of some open positions, so we'll see what happens.

I ordered curtains for my living room and can't wait for their arrival so I can get some color in here. They should come by the end of the week, and in the meantime, I am stalking my neighbors to see if any of them have a power drill I could borrow so I c an actually hang them(not that I would know how to use it, but I'm a smart girl - I could learn).

I so love it out here, but the days are getting long and very monotonous. Unless I have plans at night, it is hard to stay in a great mood during the day. I've been going down to the beach a lot just to pass time and be inspired, and it definitely works, but I know I will appreciate it more when I don't have hours and hours to spend there.

Ryan got a new job, working for Howard Bragman, of Bragman Nyman Caferelli. It is my dream job. He definitely deserves it, but I am so jealous ( in a good way). He has already offered to pass on my resume, but still... Arg.

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Sunday, April 10, 2005

Celeb sighting

Scott Speedman, of Felicity fame, at The Other Bar last night with a huge group of people including one girl that looked like she may be someone but not quite someone YET. He was either very drunk, very immature, or just very friendly - or maybe all three - kind of acting like a young fraternity boy seeking attention despite the fact that he was the heartthrob on Felicity for four years. Still, based on looks alone, it eludes me why Jennifer Garner picked Scott Foley over him. I would have moved across the country for him too, Felicity, I get it now.

Oh, and Ryan said he also saw Steve Erckel (well, the actor that played him), but I didn't see him. I actually thought that Nick Warnock (Apprentice copier salesman) was there, but it turned out to not be him.

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Wednesday, April 06, 2005


Shout out to my girls in New York! Posted by Hello

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The crazy furniture lady

That would be me. I got my coffee table and ottoman today, and suddenly decided I hate everything in my apartment. Nothing looks right, everything is blah, and things JUST AREN'T WORKING. So this evening I rearranged my whole living room, and I can't decide if it's better or worse. We'll let the light of day tomorrow decide. One conclusion I did come to was that I want to paint my wall behind the couch. Most likely a bright red or orange color. Then I will get some curtains in matching hues, which should add some punch to this drab apartment. The outside is so nice! The bathroom is PERFECT! I think I am just not used to having carpeting, and this beige, blah carpeting at that. I keep going back and forth on how bad would it be to lay some colorful rugs over the carpeting. Kind of weird, yes?

Since my furniture wasn't being delivered until at least 1:30 today, I went rollerblading down at the beach this morning. I went south again, since I had parked (far) north, and that path didn't seem so interesting. So I skated down until the path ended somewhere in Venice, and turned back around. The skate turned out to be about 45 minutes, but I (stupidly) parked about a mile away, so I had a 20 minute walk back to my car. During the walk, which faced north - directly toward where the Santa Monica Mountains meet the ocean - I just kept thinking that, for reasons I can't explain, my life just felt so complete. Go figure. I have no job, no boyfriend, my friends are in New York, I hate my furniture, but if I died now, I would die so happy. All because of scenery, and maybe the ocean/mountain air. Or maybe I was just really tired from the skate. I hope this doesn't get old, the way New York did. Not that it ever held the same allure. Or maybe it was me that got old. And bitter. And cynical. Those are the few things LA does NOT have room for. This is a bitter-free zone.

I went to the U2 concert last night with Seth and two of his friends. It was great. We went to the Figueroa Hotel beforehand for dinner and drinks, and the concert was across the street. I think it was probably the first concert I've been to since the summer of 99 when I saw Paul Simon (awesome) with Bob Dylan (disappointing) at Jones Beach with Henry. Seth is good like that. He always seems to be planning this, coordinating that. Between him and Ryan, my two best guy friends here are the ultimate party planners.

Interview tomorrow with Chinese Laundry. Then I think I will go to Targert, and look for a TV stand and also get inspiratiopn for curtains and wall colors. So much for calling it a day with the living room; it's only just beginning.

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Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Exhilaration and Frustration

Exhilaration was the run I did yesterday along the beach. Frustration was after I spent about half an hour capturing the beauty and thrill of the run on this blog when my computer for no reason whatsoever crashed before I could publish it. I didn't have the heart or energy to try and retype it last night, so here it goes from memory...

Exhilaration was the run I just came back from. Grammatically speaking, the run I just came back from was exhilarating, however, that is what is considered "poetic license".

Sunday I had driven down to the Santa Monica Pier and beach. I had passed it many times, but now had the time to explore and see what it was all about. Basically, the pier is like any other famous American pier (Navy Pier in Chicago comes to mind) but is set against the most gorgeous beach/sand/mountain/sky backdrop. Both pedestrian and bike paths line the ocean, so it is the perfect place to either run or rollerblade.

So yesterday afternoon, I went back, paid a dollar to park my car for an hour, and let me tell you, it was the best dollar I have spent since I've been here. I headed south, down to Venice, and ran along the boardwalk there, which was interesting, to say the least. "Bohemian" is a nice/PC term for it. I ran about 15 or 20 minutes, then turned back to run north, and all of a sudden, I was running against the wind (Bob Segar/Forrest Gump shout out).

It was breathtaking in more ways than one. Mountains ahead of me. Mountains behind me. The ocean to my left. Palm trees and blue sky to my right. I ran back to my car, and the whole run was probably only about 3 and half miles, but it was more challenging than most of the runs I have done around my neighborhood. And I just kept thinking, I can't believe this is my life.

It doesn't feel like my life. It feels like Jack Tripper's life. Seriously, the beach has the same wooden fence they show in the opening credits, and I kept expecting someone to fall off a bike while they turned around to look at me. But haven't I always been destined to recreate the world of Three's Company? From the time I was seven and played it at the lake with Devin Quin and Rebecca, to when Kris, Ryan and I all lived in the city and invited everyone to come dance on our floor, this IS my life. Just call me Janet.

So it was really quite fabulous and surreal all at the same time. I will have to go back again and run north next time. I will also have to bring my rollerblades at some point, so I can go a bit further. There is an open-air/glass-walled gym in Venice called Muscle Beach that I would like to check out, just for fun. Make sure I am not missing the meatheads from the Jersey shore.

When I was down there on Sunday, I picked up a Fodor's book, and I learned that there is a running path around a reservoir near the Hollywood sign. I also want to try that this week. So much to do, so much time...

I have an interview on Thursday for a marketing manager position at Chinese Laundry. I don't remember applying for it, but it could be cool. I had a pair of their shoes a few years ago that I absolutely LOVED, even though they tore up my feet every single time that I wore them. But I always got a million compliments on them. I think their stuff is mostly juniors, but that's fine with me!

I am going to see U2 tonight at the Staples Center; Seth had somehow managed to get tickets. So that's exciting. I can't even remember the last concert I've been to. They are supposed to be amazing in concert, so it should be fun. My coffee table and ottoman come tomorrow... slowly but surely I am building a life here.

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Saturday, April 02, 2005

Two months til 29!

I bought a coffee table this morning. Macy's opened at 10 AM; I walked in at 10:03, and was signing on the dotted line by 10:20. I had an interesting conversation with the saleswoman about Daylight Savings Time. She was saying that every year her body clock automatically adjusts a few days or weeks before the official changing of the clocks, and she has been waking up every morning at 5:30 AM -- way before normal. I have been doing the same. Well, not 5:30, but I'll wake up every morning at 7 or so, and force myself back to sleep until a more sensible hour (sensible for me, anyway, it's not like my daily to-do list is miles long). I had thought that maybe it was because I am still thinking on NYC time, or maybe it is the sun that streams in my window everyday at 6AM, or maybe it's the springs in my uncomfortable bed that poke through as a personal alarm clock, or maybe b/c I am not working my body is just so well rested that I don't need as much sleep. In any case, we'll see what happens when I wake up tomorrow morning and thereafter. Not that I am complaining - it's lovely to have these days start early and last so long. It's just that I find myself looking for ways to fill them, that don't involve spending money. The coffee table I bought was on clearance, so I got a great deal, and it will be delivered with my ottoman on Wednesday. At that point, I will declare my living room basically completed, save for some more personal touches that will likely come with time.

Last night I went out with this guy that Suanne, my stepmother, used to work with in Boston. She put us in touch a few months ago, so we have been emailing, and just met last night. He lives pretty close to me, in Brentwood, and we actually walked to some bars in his area. Haven't done that in two weeks!

Tonight I am going out with Tracy and Natalie - not sure where we will go or what we will do. Natalie is Tracy's friend from college, and lived in our building with Lara when we all lived on 44th street. She moved out here a few months ago - another one to board the popular LA train.

I still can't get over how nice everyone is out here. People smile and say hi. I've met all of my neighbors and know them by name. Seven years in New York and I never met a single neighbor. I spent some time yesterday with Christina, who lives in one of the studios here. She is really nice, and looks about my age. She is a screenwriter (who isn't?) but told me that another one of our neighbors works in PR, so now I am stalking him out to see if I can talk to him about that. I actually met him last weekend, and he was super friendly, but I didn't know at the time that he was in my industry.

I also can't get over how gorgeous it is EVERY SINGLE DAY. I hate my gym - it is gross and cookie cutter - and it is hard to make myself go when it is SO gorgeous out. I have been running outside, which is great, but it makes it that much harder to consider driving there and parking just to lift for 40 minutes. At least the fee was cheap, and it's month-to-month, so I am not committed should I suddenly get a windfall and be able to join Sports Club LA. Actually, I'd probably hate it there too - for the opposite reason. Too many beautiful people for me to deal.

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Friday, April 01, 2005

And another perfect hair day going to waste sitting in my apartment

But I would say that 11 out of the last 14 days have all been perfect hair days. It's incredible! It is supposed to get to 85 degrees today - and that's just on the coast! I have some freelance work to do this morning, but as soon as that's done, I am going out - I don't care where. I'll also try and meet Tracy or other friends for Happy Hour later, just to take advantage of this perfect weather.

Yesterday I went out to the Grove and Farmer's Market, just to see what it was all about. It's basically an outdoor mall, kind of like Fanuil Hall or South Street Seaport. I got a vase at Crate and Barrel, but that's about it. I also got a suntan from driving there with my sunroof open. Fantastic. Oh, and I also had a C-list celeb sighting at the Farmer's Market. Paul, from VH1's Best Week Ever. I only know his name because I overheard him tell the two teenage girls who went up to him.

I really need to finish decorating this apt. Aside from looking empty, I'm realizing that it also needs some color - the couches and dining set are all gunmetal, and kind of blah. So are all my frames hanging on the wall. I need to punch it up a bit.

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