Some fun stuff I've found on the internets:
Hipster Puppies - I'm going to try to get Bear in the Hipster Puppies book. We will do a photo shoot this weekend. I did a test shoot and he kept trying to eat my sunglasses.
Vote for the Worst - Their recaps make American Idol somewhat entertaining. What, I said somewhat. I still fast forward through most of the show.
Unnecessary Quotes - Plays on one of my pet peeves. Now if only there were a blog decrying people who capitalize Things that are not Proper Nouns...
Cake or Death...and Legos - One of my favorite Eddie Izzard bits of all time, with Lego animation. Brilliant!
And for anyone who thinks I should have more links after a 4 month hiatus - clearly I have been working very very hard, way too hard to spend all day surfing the interweb.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Stuff You Might Like: Produce
I blogged last year about CSA California, where I got a mixed bag of farm-fresh produce. I've actually stopped getting bags from them in favor of going to the local farmer's markets and picking out my own fruits and vegetables (the CSA bag was great, but I didn't get to pick what I wanted). I've been going to the Sunday market on Ventura Place at Laurel Canyon, and the Tuesday market on Woodman at Riverside (in the mall parking lot).
As you probably know, shopping at farmer's markets is much better for the environment than shopping at grocery stores because of the reduction in energy used to transport the produce. (I feel like the "The More You Know" star should fly across the screen at this point.) And it may be a little bit more expensive, but the food is so much better. I did a taste test - I bought some strawberries at the grocery store (because they were 88 cents and I love strawberries) and then I bought strawberries at the farmer's market. The difference was amazing - it was like comparing strawberries to iceberg lettuce shaped like strawberries...the grocery store berries comparatively had no flavor. My friend Donna says it's because grocery store produce ripens on the truck while farmer's market produce ripens on the vine (or in the ground, or whatever). Donna also says that once I start eating fruits and veggies from my yard garden it's going to be even more of a taste difference, so yay!
Both markets have their strengths and weaknesses...here are my reviews (titles link to official websites):
Sunday Farmer's Market in Studio City
A great selection of everything, but go early if you want yellow beets. My favorite goat cheese is there (the vendor is called Mom's and it's the herb goat feta), as well as the Japanese cucumber vendor and the guy with the amazing baguettes. There's also a vendor that seems to specialize in root vegetables - I got sunchokes there a couple of weeks ago and they were awesome. This is the market to go to if you want a big selection and would like to try some new things.
Parking can be a nightmare - I almost got into an altercation with an angry driver last time I went. It's pretty crowded and the crowd is unfortunately slightly oblivious to their spatial relationships...the type of people that come to a dead stop in front of you or walk slowly and diagonally in your path. But whatever, it's Sunday and it's early and they're probably hung over. No dogs allowed, but my friend Bethany who has a dog walking/sitting business goes there with a crate and dogsits while people shop.
Tuesday Farmer's Market at Woodman/Riverside
This one's a bit smaller but has some great vendors, and I love that they're there until 8 pm. My favorite vendor there by far, and the best deal, is the flower guy. Where else can you get five stems of tuberoses (my favorite flower) for $3? He'll tell you how long the bouquet will last (usually a week to 10 days) and he's not been wrong so far.
Dogs seem to be allowed - I've seen a couple there and I think I might take Bear today since I'm just grabbing a couple of things. The only drawback to this market is size and selection, but you can find pretty much any basic fruit or vegetable in season. No sunchokes though.
There's a woman who specializes in goat cheese, and I got a tub of cucumber/jalapeno goat cheese once that was spectacular. The fruit guy towards the end has some amazing apples, and the lettuce woman had the best pack of strawberries I've gotten this season.
And speaking of lettuce - both markets have a lettuce vendor with a blend called the "Special Mix." It has flowers, herbs (including amazing purple basil) and an assortment of baby lettuces. I've pretty much become addicted to this lettuce and sometimes go to both markets in one week to stock up.
If you want to read more reviews, here are the yelp pages for both:
Studio City Sunday Market
Woodman Avenue Tuesday Market
Happy shopping!
As you probably know, shopping at farmer's markets is much better for the environment than shopping at grocery stores because of the reduction in energy used to transport the produce. (I feel like the "The More You Know" star should fly across the screen at this point.) And it may be a little bit more expensive, but the food is so much better. I did a taste test - I bought some strawberries at the grocery store (because they were 88 cents and I love strawberries) and then I bought strawberries at the farmer's market. The difference was amazing - it was like comparing strawberries to iceberg lettuce shaped like strawberries...the grocery store berries comparatively had no flavor. My friend Donna says it's because grocery store produce ripens on the truck while farmer's market produce ripens on the vine (or in the ground, or whatever). Donna also says that once I start eating fruits and veggies from my yard garden it's going to be even more of a taste difference, so yay!
Both markets have their strengths and weaknesses...here are my reviews (titles link to official websites):
Sunday Farmer's Market in Studio City
A great selection of everything, but go early if you want yellow beets. My favorite goat cheese is there (the vendor is called Mom's and it's the herb goat feta), as well as the Japanese cucumber vendor and the guy with the amazing baguettes. There's also a vendor that seems to specialize in root vegetables - I got sunchokes there a couple of weeks ago and they were awesome. This is the market to go to if you want a big selection and would like to try some new things.
Parking can be a nightmare - I almost got into an altercation with an angry driver last time I went. It's pretty crowded and the crowd is unfortunately slightly oblivious to their spatial relationships...the type of people that come to a dead stop in front of you or walk slowly and diagonally in your path. But whatever, it's Sunday and it's early and they're probably hung over. No dogs allowed, but my friend Bethany who has a dog walking/sitting business goes there with a crate and dogsits while people shop.
Tuesday Farmer's Market at Woodman/Riverside
This one's a bit smaller but has some great vendors, and I love that they're there until 8 pm. My favorite vendor there by far, and the best deal, is the flower guy. Where else can you get five stems of tuberoses (my favorite flower) for $3? He'll tell you how long the bouquet will last (usually a week to 10 days) and he's not been wrong so far.
Dogs seem to be allowed - I've seen a couple there and I think I might take Bear today since I'm just grabbing a couple of things. The only drawback to this market is size and selection, but you can find pretty much any basic fruit or vegetable in season. No sunchokes though.
There's a woman who specializes in goat cheese, and I got a tub of cucumber/jalapeno goat cheese once that was spectacular. The fruit guy towards the end has some amazing apples, and the lettuce woman had the best pack of strawberries I've gotten this season.
And speaking of lettuce - both markets have a lettuce vendor with a blend called the "Special Mix." It has flowers, herbs (including amazing purple basil) and an assortment of baby lettuces. I've pretty much become addicted to this lettuce and sometimes go to both markets in one week to stock up.
If you want to read more reviews, here are the yelp pages for both:
Studio City Sunday Market
Woodman Avenue Tuesday Market
Happy shopping!
Monday, April 12, 2010
if you're happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap)
I was out for a drink with a friend last night, and we were discussing how he's happier than he's ever been -- even though he's unemployed and not sure what his next step will be. And I realized that I'm pretty happy too.
If you had told me a year ago (or any number of years ago, really) that at 29, I'd be working for my dad and be content, I would have laughed in your face. But. I get to bring my dog to work, I'm not in constant fear of losing my job, I'm learning how to run a small business...and I've been writing more than ever. I'm currently working on more sketches, a full-length play, and will be writing for a theater event in the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
I've been chanting a lot, and half the time I am simply chanting my gratitude - for my health, my house, friends, family, animals...the list goes on. When you stop to reflect on the positive things in your life, they seem to multiply.
If you had told me a year ago (or any number of years ago, really) that at 29, I'd be working for my dad and be content, I would have laughed in your face. But. I get to bring my dog to work, I'm not in constant fear of losing my job, I'm learning how to run a small business...and I've been writing more than ever. I'm currently working on more sketches, a full-length play, and will be writing for a theater event in the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
I've been chanting a lot, and half the time I am simply chanting my gratitude - for my health, my house, friends, family, animals...the list goes on. When you stop to reflect on the positive things in your life, they seem to multiply.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Well, hi. Fancy meeting you here.
It's been a while. But it's a new month (April Fools' Day no less) and another attempt to update this here blog on a semi-regular basis.
The nice thing is, though I have not been writing here, I have been writing. I'm almost done with Act I of my first full-length play (tentatively titled "DSM-V") and also just had two sketches produced as part of my improv group's March show.
I've been in my little house for almost two years now, and have definitely been growing in NoHo. Previously black-thumbed Jax actually has a vegetable garden going - my lettuce is thriving, peas are shooting up, carrots are carroting and beets are beeting.
And, the biggest change in my life in the past year or so - I got a dog. A mutt puppy from the pound, named Bear. He gets to come to work with me, which is awesome. I've never had a dog before, not even as a kid, so it's a new sort of commitment but one that I'm really enjoying.
Overall, life is good. Which doesn't make for a very exciting blog post but does make me quite happy.
The nice thing is, though I have not been writing here, I have been writing. I'm almost done with Act I of my first full-length play (tentatively titled "DSM-V") and also just had two sketches produced as part of my improv group's March show.
I've been in my little house for almost two years now, and have definitely been growing in NoHo. Previously black-thumbed Jax actually has a vegetable garden going - my lettuce is thriving, peas are shooting up, carrots are carroting and beets are beeting.
And, the biggest change in my life in the past year or so - I got a dog. A mutt puppy from the pound, named Bear. He gets to come to work with me, which is awesome. I've never had a dog before, not even as a kid, so it's a new sort of commitment but one that I'm really enjoying.
Overall, life is good. Which doesn't make for a very exciting blog post but does make me quite happy.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Lost in NoHo
In the past three weeks, I've lost my job and my car. The job, permanently. The car, not so much, but I've realized it's a money pit and a lemon. And I'm about three thousand dollars upside down on my car loan.
In the past three months, I lost my mind. For the second time. I also lost a bit of my dignity and self-worth when I was in an emotionally abusive relationship.
In the past three years, I've lost a (different) job, a boyfriend, and an apartment.
But I don't want to talk about what I've lost. I want to talk about what I've gained, and what I'm not going to lose. I've gained insight on mental illness, both my own and in general. I've gained a new respect for my relationship with my parents, who are not going to allow me to lose my house. I've gained perspective on the difference between what is personal and what is business, and I've gained the ability to not take things personally, even when they seem to be nothing but. Most importantly, I've gained the strength to say "never again will I allow myself to be taken advantage of, and never again will I let my mind break itself into a million little pieces."
I've gained a voice that is unafraid to talk about my illness, but also the realization that I can make the choice to not be defined by having bipolar disorder. I may be "crazy," but I'm also a dancer, a writer, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a stage manager, a Berkeley graduate, a fluent Italian speaker, a cook, a hockey player, an aggressive driver, and the list goes on and on. I am one of the "lucky ones."
I've gained the courage to talk about my illness openly and honestly, and the backbone to defend my decision to treat it with medication. I've lost the fear of being judged because of the stigma attached to mental illness. I'm currently looking for freelance work that utilizes my skills and intellect, and I'm developing my own passion projects: a documentary that will attempt to clarify the facts about mental illness, and a non-profit that will teach the creative arts to kids that don't have the same advantages I had growing up.
I lost my mind.
I lost my job.
I found my strength.
I found my voice.
In the past three months, I lost my mind. For the second time. I also lost a bit of my dignity and self-worth when I was in an emotionally abusive relationship.
In the past three years, I've lost a (different) job, a boyfriend, and an apartment.
But I don't want to talk about what I've lost. I want to talk about what I've gained, and what I'm not going to lose. I've gained insight on mental illness, both my own and in general. I've gained a new respect for my relationship with my parents, who are not going to allow me to lose my house. I've gained perspective on the difference between what is personal and what is business, and I've gained the ability to not take things personally, even when they seem to be nothing but. Most importantly, I've gained the strength to say "never again will I allow myself to be taken advantage of, and never again will I let my mind break itself into a million little pieces."
I've gained a voice that is unafraid to talk about my illness, but also the realization that I can make the choice to not be defined by having bipolar disorder. I may be "crazy," but I'm also a dancer, a writer, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a stage manager, a Berkeley graduate, a fluent Italian speaker, a cook, a hockey player, an aggressive driver, and the list goes on and on. I am one of the "lucky ones."
I've gained the courage to talk about my illness openly and honestly, and the backbone to defend my decision to treat it with medication. I've lost the fear of being judged because of the stigma attached to mental illness. I'm currently looking for freelance work that utilizes my skills and intellect, and I'm developing my own passion projects: a documentary that will attempt to clarify the facts about mental illness, and a non-profit that will teach the creative arts to kids that don't have the same advantages I had growing up.
I lost my mind.
I lost my job.
I found my strength.
I found my voice.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Dear Rock Gods:
Thank you.
The concert was fantastic, I got a set list, they played many of the songs on my wish list. The most recent album could seriously be the soundtrack to my life. And lately, it has been. There's nothing like driving around hel-L.A. with a broken convertible top and some long-ago busted out speakers blasting your favorite band.
At times like that, all I can say is Go Bears. And thank you Rock Gods.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
An Open Letter to Gomez the Band
Hello to any and all rock gods looking on from above or below,
Here is my proposed set list for tomorrow's show at the Wiltern:
"A New Tide" in its entirety, especially Win Park Slope into Bone Tired.
Encores: Trombone, Rosemary, Machismo (the latter two are favorites I've never heard live).
OR:
We Don't Know Where We're Going
Love is Better than a Warm Trombone
Win Park Slope-> Bone Tired
Revolutionary Kind
Buena Vista
Ruff Stuff
Get Myself Arrested
In Our Gun
Emergency Surgery
Little Pieces (since it was in Grey's)
How We Operate (see above)
Encore:
Make No Sound
Rosemary (seriously, you could walk onstage and play that and walk off and I'd be quite pleased.)
Cheers! I'll be the short girl with curly hair in the front row screaming my freaking head off.
--Jackie
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