« June 2004 | Main | August 2004 »
July 29, 2004
Truly Wonderful
Y'know what's truly wonderful? Just having an average day (certainly, there were many very cool things that happened today, so I don't want to discount that, but really it was just an average day, by most counts) and realizing, "Man! I have the BEST life!"
I'm so very happy. Yes, it's great that I'm moving. Yes, it's delightful that I'm in demand in the casting world so soon after entering it. Yes, it's always bliss to receive a thank you note from a reader somewhere. Yes, it's true happiness that I have a partner who loves and supports me. And it's also simply WONDERFUL that I just love this life.
Wow. That's just about the best kind of end-of-the-day thought out there. Had to share.
Posted by bonnie at 12:06 AM
July 26, 2004
Packed It
I think... I finally... packed... my brain.
I've been joking about that for a week or so, but I believe it has happened. I am officially fried. FRIED.
But I think we're now actually very close to being able to move OUT of the old apartment and into the new one... once they give us access to the new place. Ack!
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR thank yous to the families Koellish and Lindsay. Y'all kick ass!!!!! Wow!
I'm fried. Luckily, the Chihuahua I'm taking care of doesn't mind. Sadly, the people I'm to interact with... yeah, they'd prefer a non-fried Bon. Maybe next week.
Posted by bonnie at 2:09 AM
July 22, 2004
Pet-sitting
Weirdness at the pet-sitting corral...
Today a neighbor knocked on the inside-of-the-garage door to let me know the garage had been open for a few hours. WHAT?!?
I tried to figure out what combination of buttons or switches I'd pushed that made the garage door open and couldn't. Yet the door was open. What had happened?!?
Luckily, said neighbor said, "It's a good neighborhood. You're safe," but still I felt a little weirded out. No one who has ever been assaulted in any way likes being told there's an all-access pass in the 'hood. Ever.
Otherwise, life is good. Working. Busy. Love it!
Posted by bonnie at 9:25 PM
July 20, 2004
What is WRONG with me?!?
Okay, so I'm spending every spare moment packing and purging (man, is it EVER liberating to toss YEARS-in-the-making collections, stacks, and STUFF!) and I come across my 377-page Getting Interactive with Authorware manual by Lloyd P. Rieber, circa 1997 and the start of my PhD program in Instructional Technology at the University of Georgia.
Why do I feel the need to keep this thing?!?
I don't understand it. I haven't OWNED a computer on which the version of Authorware depicted in this manual's pages could operate since 1999. I haven't DESIGNED a piece of Authorware software since 1998, in the class associated with this very manual. I haven't RUN a piece of software designed on Authorware since 1998 (unless I may have run my programs in 1999, just for sentimental reasons--can't recall).
Why do I want to keep the manual that taught me how to program in Authorware? Well, it IS a very well-written and easy-to-follow technical manual, as technical manuals go.
I must say that the most influential "while-petsitting-and-not-packing" reading I've done this week has been Clear Your Clutter With Fung Shui. If that can't decrease your OCD/packrat tendencies, I don't know what will!
LIBERATING! That's what throwing things away IS!
Posted by bonnie at 2:09 PM
July 19, 2004
Well, thank goodness!
You know you're a blog addict when...
...the server is down for a few days and you find yourself STILL stopping by the site, trying to log in, checking to see if comment posting randomly starts working, etc., every chance you get.
Yeah... online fewer than two hours TOTAL over the last five days, and my "history" in Safari shows 100 reloads of MT/SpyNotebook/BonBlogs. LOL
Phew! Thanks, Chip, for getting us all up and running again before your vacation. You, as always, rock. Have fun at the convention!
Tons of news but no time to share. Much much much too much work to do right now to stop and blog properly. Please forgive me. I'll report fully once I am able.
Oh, and a funny on which to end: how'd I know my blog was back up? I got an email notification when I started up the Chicklet at today's stop home to pack... from some Spam Artist trying to enlarge the penis of every BonBlogs reader. Bless his multiple-blocked-IP-address little heart.
Posted by bonnie at 1:59 PM
July 12, 2004
So... Why Santa Monica?
A couple of reasons.
#1: Seven blocks from the beach. No, I'm not a big sun-bather (a sun allergy will do that to ya), but I used to write my standup routines before class on that strip of grass with shady trees just between my NEW apartment and the ocean itself. Gorgeous! Great sounds, lovely smells, beautiful vibe. The ocean is also where I feel closest to my mother. I really feel her there.
#2: Weather. Notice the "feels like" section of each of these reports (clicking on either will take you to the current-current conditions):
Yeah. That's easy. I'm a weather wimp. That's enough of a difference for me.
As we head into the hottest months of the year, I'm looking forward to living in this wonderful top-floor apartment with windows on THREE sides... cross-breeze, anyone? Yeah. I'm a happy camper.
Now... one quandary: what to rename the sub-title of my Blog. You'll notice it is (and has been) "Bonnie Gillespie writes about the view from inside her brain and points south. Oh, and from Hollywood." That's been true as long as I've had a Blog! So, what do I say now? "Oh, and from Santa Monica," "Oh, and from 90403," "Oh, and from Tinseltown," "Oh, and from La-La Land," "Oh, and from the PCH," "Oh, and from the ocean," "Oh, and from the 310," what???!! Weigh in, people. I only have a couple of weeks to resolve this one!
Back to packing.
Oh! My birthday ROCKED, BTW. Thank you, everyone!!! It was magical!!
Posted by bonnie at 1:06 PM
July 11, 2004
When July Comes the 11th
I grew up hearing that I loved to tell people, when asked, "How old are you?" "When July comes the 11th, I'll be..." rather than doing the standard, "I'm freeeeee," "I'm four years old," or "I'm THIS many!"
I think that's great! I love that I love my birthday. And I love that I'm the only person I know with this birthday. I know TEN different people born on January 28th. TEN. Is that karma, or what? And I have LIVED with TWO different people born on March 3rd! What does this tell you? I know so many people with the same birthdays... and I have never met another 7-11 baby. Yes, I know OF them (Suzanne Vega and Peter Gabriel, for two examples), but we've never met.
So far, today has been grand. Having an absolutely delightful birthday. Very quiet and warm. I have lots of Roxbury work to do today, so that will be my main focus, and then back to packing. I know... big party birthday, but I guess 34 isn't the party-animal-age we all heard it was. Tee hee.
Oh, speaking of party-animal-age... Keith and I were driving recently and heard on the radio that you could call in and win a year's worth of free passes to the live "Star Lounge" recording sessions (sort of an Unplugged thing). This is a huge deal and everyone's really excited about it. My comment, "There was a time when I would've been all over that. That time is sooooo nowhere near today."
Heh heh. I'm old.
We're running out of "staging area" space for packing. Ack! But we learned that Faith is 100% out of her place already, so we should be able to start moving things over within a week to ten days. Very excited! Of course, I'll be in Marina del Rey, pet-sitting, but I'm SURE Keith will do a good job with all the heavy lifting. Ha ha.
Thank you to everyone who is making this birthday so incredibly special. Seriously; I have gotten the most heartfelt, wonderful, dazzling messages, cards, and emails this year. Everyone is making my special day (who are we kidding? I celebrate the whole month... duh!) really fantastic. THANK YOU for being in my life. I am truly blessed!
Posted by bonnie at 12:04 PM
July 9, 2004
GMail Update
I have been using GMail for--what--two weeks or so and just now hit 1mb/1% (1% holds 'til 10mb) of my capacity. So, I chose "delete forever" for the messages in my trash and now I'm back down to 0mb/0% of my capacity.
So far, I've moved all of my subscriptions and notifications that were with Netscape Mail and Hotmail over to GMail, but not my Yahoo Mail stuff, since they've upped the storage to 1gb too, in order to stay competitive. Fine. Pretty cool. No complaints, except for a glitch in ONE of my Yahoo Groups on digest mode, which gets about every 10th digest in some weird format, which I cannot read in the mail. *shrug* No biggie.
Bon Update
I realize that my vague post about my ego-smack and come-down after lots of high-energy goodies has worried some people. Please please please know that I blog like I live: the thought/idea/concept goes out there and I move on. Everything is fine; I was just noticing a pattern in my level of activity (high), amount of prosperity (high), being followed by a quick crash in my physical state and an ego-smack from a friend. Seems I consistently get my feelings hurt and my physical energy rundown right after a series of really great events and happenings. So, I was just musing about the pattern.
Cindy, your comment on the WATER is just what I needed. THANK YOU. I KNOW we are to live in the FLOW. That's what leads to all the GOOD stuff. Silly to then shift into an ego-based state and get the smack-down both physically and emotionally, as if to remind me that I'm to stay OUT of that mindset.
All this to say, all is well. I am spending every free moment packing and integrating the kitty into the cat-family here. Thwok is doing well and all three of the kitties LOVE the empty boxes, open drawers, cabinets, and closets. It's a world of play around here, and that keeps me amused while doing the PURGING that inevitably comes with packing/moving. It's a good thing. Took six bags to Good Will yesterday. More to go. Decided we can't manage a moving sale, as planned, due to the timing of all of this. Must just give and move on.
Ack! This break is lasting longer than I thought it would. Oh, Chip has added Wiki to the SpyNotebook, whatever that means. Yes... I'm intrigued. Love gettin' my geek on!
Back to packing!
Posted by bonnie at 11:12 AM
July 8, 2004
Absolute Truth
Matzoh Ball Soup can fix anything.
Posted by bonnie at 12:23 PM
*sigh*
What is with the let-down that comes after a bunch of really hyper-cool activity? And how much does the ego suck that it feels the need to be smacked about every now and then and finds ways to get "out there" and be extra-vulnerable? And why is it that it'll be a "so-called-friend" who will oblige and put you in check when you think no one is noticing the sad stuff in the on-deck circle behind all of the bliss churning out?
*sigh*
Somehow, I already feel better, just by blogging it. So... for what it's worth, there it is: questions. No answers. But the posing of the questions is enough. Fine. I'll take it. Now to bed.
Posted by bonnie at 2:00 AM
July 7, 2004
Okay, Kris... here's another one.
20 Questions to a Better Personality
My results:
You are an SEDL--Sober Emotional Destructive Leader. This makes you a dictator. You prefer to control situations, and lack of control makes you physically sick. You feel have responsibility for everyone's welfare, and that you will be blamed when things go wrong. Things do go wrong, and you take it harder than you should.
You rely on the validation and support of others, but you have a secret distrust for people and distaste for their habits and weaknesses that make you keep your distance from them. This makes you very difficult to be with romantically. Still, a level-headed peacemaker can keep you balanced.
Despite your fierce temper and general hot-bloodedness, you have a soft spot for animals and a surprising passion for the arts. Sometimes you would almost rather live by your wits in the wilderness somewhere, if you could bring your books and your sketchbook.
You also have a strange, undeniable sexiness to you. You may go insane.
Well... all righty then.
Posted by bonnie at 3:33 PM
July 5, 2004
Heh heh
Well... she ASKED to come home with me. So...
Yeah. This is the newest member of our family. I think her name is Thwok. She's enjoying the company of her Aunt SixHundy in this photo, taken by her first human mom: my sis Deb McCarthy.
Uncle Archie and Aunt Salema have reserved judgement for now, but both will be won over before long.
Oh, and we signed the lease on the new place today (and forked over a few thousand buckaroonies). So... here we go!
PS--Sorry to give you more quizzes/surveys to waste your days with, Kris. I hope you're posting YOUR results somewhere fun so I can come see. ;) Tee hee.
PPS--10am tomorrow is the start-time to call in your RSVP if you are a member of the SAG Conservatory and intend to attend their cool weekend workshops July 17th & 18th (I'm speaking to two groups on the 17th). 323.856.7736. So excited!
PPPS--See y'all at HHH tomorrow. We're gonna have a BLAST!
Posted by bonnie at 8:18 PM
July 3, 2004
When I Should Be Packing...
...I answer silly surveys! Feel free to do the same. ;) I'll pack tomorrow!
Survey One
A - Act Your Age: 33.9
B - Boyfriend: Keith Johnson
C - Chore You Hate: Dishes, vacuuming, taking trash out
D - Dad's Name: Charles
E - Essential Make-Up Item: Cover Girl pressed powder
F - Fave Actress: Faith Salie! (another "F") ;)
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Homeland: Hotlanta (another "H") ;)
I - Instruments You Play: none well
J - Job Title: Author, Casting Director
K - Kid-Like Thing You Still Do: giggle with glee whenever possible
L - Living Arrangements: in transition from a large 1BR in the Hollywood Hills to a 2BR apartment seven blocks from the beach
M - Mom's Name: Charlsie
N - Number of Men You've Slept With: Pff. Taking that number to the grave, my friends!
O - Overnight Hospital Stays: just one (age 3)
P - Phobia: cotton balls (yes, I am serious)
Q - Quote You Like: "Live your dreams. If you don't, someone else will!"
R - Religious Affiliation: open. ;)
S - Siblings: two very-older brothers
T - Time You Wake Up: whenever
U - Unique Habit: have a whole list of 'em at the "Little Known Facts" page of the bonsite. I'll say... only turning volume up or down in increments of five, when numbers are used to measure the volume (but really, that's just the tip of the iceberg. OCD is such a strange beast).
V - Vegetable You Refuse to Eat: It's not a vegetable, but I can't think of a veggie I don't like, so I'll say: the evil mushroom. Ick.
W - Worst Habit: picking at scabs. Ewwwwwwww.
X - X-Rays You've Had: good lord... way too many to recall.
Y - Yummy Food You Make: I burn water, but I can make a GREAT spinach dip!
Z - Zodiac Sign: Cancer (with Libra moon and Libra rising... ooooh!)
Survey Two
LAYER ONE:
...........................................................................
-- Name: Bonnie Athene Gillespie
-- Birth date: 11 July 1970
-- Current Location: Hollywood Hills
-- Hair Color: reddish
-- Height: 5' 7"
-- Righty or Lefty: lefty
LAYER TWO:
...........................................................................
-- Your heritage: mutt (Scottish, Irish, British, Dutch, Cherokee)
-- Your weakness: perfectionism
-- Your perfect pizza: Stouffer's French Bread, with pepperoni
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: Abundance that allows me to take care of my friends and family, create an endowment at my alma mater, take classes, do crafty things, write for fun, travel in style.
LAYER THREE:
............................................................................
-- Your thoughts first waking up: Yay!
-- Your best physical feature: my rack
-- Your bedtime: what's that?
-- Adidas or Nike: Adidas... b/c I know someone. ;)
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Tejava
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Chai Latte. No coffee.
LAYER FOUR:
............................................................................
-- Smoke: former smoker
-- Cuss: absofrickinlutely!
-- Sing: as frequently as possible
-- Take a shower everyday: or a bubble bath
-- Ever been in love: all the time
-- Want to go to college: perpetual student. I describe my PhD as in-progress but on hiatus.
LAYER FIVE:
............................................................................
-- Liked high school: It had its moments.
-- Want to get married: Maybe.
-- Believe in yourself: Absolutely.
-- Think you're attractive: Yup.
-- Think you're a health freak: No. I can be. But no.
-- Get along with your parents: Mom's gone.
-- Like thunderstorms: Love them.
-- Play an instrument: None well.
LAYER SIX:
............................................................................
In the 6 past months...
-- Drank alcohol: of course
-- Smoked: um... yeah. I think so.
-- Had Sex: tee hee. Yes.
-- Made Out: awwww yeah. Love that!
-- Gone to the mall: is the Citadel a mall?
-- Eaten sushi: yes
-- Been dumped: by a friend? Yes.
-- Made homemade cookies: never
-- Dyed your hair: nope
-- Stolen anything: yes. And gave it back. ;)
LAYER SEVEN:
............................................................................
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: nope
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: sure
-- Been caught "doing something": such as?
-- Been called a tease: constantly
-- Shop Lifted: no
-- Changed who you were to fit in: absolutely not. Stopped doing that in my 20s.
LAYER EIGHT:
............................................................................
-- Age you hope to be married: when it's right
-- Numbers and Names of Children: Uhm... liking names like Walker (family name) and Mia/Maya type names. Who knows?
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: Just us. Quiet. Lovely.
-- Where you want to go to college: I'd love to go back to the UCLA Writer's Program. I had a blast while I was there before.
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: I don't even understand that question.
-- What country would you most like to visit: Ireland
LAYER NINE:
............................................................................
In a boy... or girl:
-- Best eye color?: grey
-- Best hair color?: dark brown or black
-- Short or long hair?: depends on facial features and style
-- Height: tall
-- Best weight: bigger than I can bench-press
-- Best articles of clothing: well-worn jeans
LAYER TEN:
............................................................................
-- # of people I could trust with my life: eight
-- # of CDs that I own: good lord! Thousands.
-- # of piercings: one in each ear
-- # of tattoos: two
-- # of scars on my body: many
-- # of things in my past that I regret: zero
Survey Three
First best friend: Susan Waters
First real memory of something: Reenacting "The Donny and Marie Show"
First Job: Babysitter
First screen name: bonnieathene
First self purchased album: "Grease" Soundtrack
First funeral: Clay O. Gillespie (grandfather), 1990
First pet: Tabby (A beagle. I wanted a cat.)
First piercing/tattoo: Ears/Left Ankle
First credit card: 1988 (Still paying off that Victoria's Secret bra.)
First enemy: Some kid named Marc at the Montessori School
First big trip: Daytona Beach
First concert: ELO
........................................................................
Last big car ride: Sundance 2002
Last good cry: from laughter at Keith
Last kiss: an hour ago when Keith went to bed
Last movie seen: "The Terminal"
Last beverage drank: ice water
Last food consumed: spinach dip on toast
Last crush: John Cusack (same crush since 1985)
Last phone call: the director of the next film I'm casting
Last TV show watched: Nip/Tuck on TiVo
Last time showered: this morning
Last shoes worn: black strappy sandals
Last CD played: Pixies' "Trompe le Monde"
Last item bought: a round of drinks at Fox & Hound after Pamela's show last weekend
Posted by bonnie at 12:55 AM
July 2, 2004
The Hits Keep Coming!
I've just been hired to cast a 35mm SAG Experimental short film called "Each To Each," directed by Leo Age, produced by Cary Becker. Look for the Breakdown on ActorsAccess.com beginning Tuesday, the 6th (which is Hollywood Happy Hour, BTW).
Woo hoo!
Oh, and if you're a male or female between the ages of 33 and 40 with STRONG THEATRE CREDITS, get me your headshot. ;) Woooooo hooooooo!
Happy dance! So far, July is the best month EVER! I soooo love my birthday month. It's always the awesomest! Yay!
Posted by bonnie at 11:59 AM
July 1, 2004
We're Moving!
Yep, just got the call a few minutes ago... we've been approved and will be the new residents of cousin Faith's current pad (a kick-ass 2BR seven blocks from the beach in Santa Monica).
Anyone wanna help us move?
Heeeeeeeeeee!!!! So excited!!!!
Posted by bonnie at 10:20 AM