July 15, 2008
Wii! Wii Fit! Birffday Goodness!
So, we've been looking for a Wii/Wii Fit bundle for a couple of months now. Everywhere has been sold out, but Keith randomly popped into a local toy store today and, lo and behold, there it was!
He calls me up and says, "Are we still go for takeoff on buying a Wii/Wii Fit bundle? I have one in my hands. It's $600."
To which I replied, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEEEE! Yay!"
And he brought it right home, set it up while I Twittered about it, and then I worked out and played for HOURS.
I'm totally addicted to this thing! Who knew???? It's FUN!
(Now, I didn't like its original "fitness age" for me--49--but I sure as shit loved the "fitness age" it gave me after an hour of working out! 30, baby! 30!!!! YEAH!)
So, apparently, a little computer voice that sounds like WALL-E and the ability to earn points to unlock new games by doing well, plus rankings and feedback on how to stand correctly during yoga poses, how to catch hulahoops around my neck, and how to dance along with the other Mii's in a step class is all I needed to get truly motivated. ;)
Hee!
I mean...
Wii!
Posted by bonnie at 9:52 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 29, 2008
Hot Saturday Night
So, we had big plans.
There was a movie. Then dinner. Then a comedy show.
Long date. Big Saturday night out. Very cool (and well-earned).
Then today, Keith says, "Aw, crap, I have rehearsal!"
And instead of going out on my own or asking for arm candy to accompany me, I decide to stay in and fold laundry, download missing artwork for the mashups in my iTunes, and figure out what the latest--but not too ridiculously high-end--WYSIWYG webpage composer shareware (Or is it all called Open Source now?) is, since I can no longer use SeaMonkey since Keith had to rebuild Sid at the Mac Genius Bar for FIVE HOURS on Thursday (another story for another time).
Oh, such the Hollywood hot life!
Jealous?
Posted by bonnie at 7:01 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 15, 2008
Déjà Vu!
Remember about three years ago when I was OBSESSED with finding the damn touch-up paint for my car?
And then I finally just broke down and bought some more?
Yeah, well, here we are again. After having left my 1990 Mazda Miata touch-up paint OUT! On the entertainment center! Every day! For over two years! So I would always know where it was! And never lose it again!, I had to go and fix a hole.
And damn if I can find the effin' touch-up paint I bought in 2005 to replace the touch-up paint I bought in 1989.
And the rainy and windy winter has caused a need to touch up a couple of spots on the TicTac.
And SONOFABITCH, I have to buy that shit again.
And I'm still obsessed, knowing I could tear this house apart and find TWO bottles of touch-up paint for my Miata... if I just had the time.
*grumble* *grumble* *obsession* *grumble*
So...
I break down and buy the stuff again. (It's all of six bucks, so why do I care (beyond the obsession), right?) And it arrives on Thursday afternoon.
Guess what Keith finds today while throwing out computer equipment in anticipation of the arrival of his new 8-Core Mac Pro.
Yup. One of the two aforementioned bottles of Miata Touch-Up Paint.
Sonofabitch.
Posted by bonnie at 10:22 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 16, 2008
Mortified
And it's all Mercury Retrograde's fault.
(Well, that's not true. I'll take some of the blame, as I certainly know well enough by now that I'm to double-check and triple-check everything communicated to me during Mercury Retrograde.)
Okay, so on the 5th, I agreed to speak at the Musical Theatre Competitions of America event at Fullerton College today. I was told I could have 1pm or 2pm, and I chose 2pm. Even put it on my calendar.
Had received two follow-up emails from the coordinator going over things like parking and day-of cell phone numbers for emergencies... and flagged those emails to print out today, before hopping in the car for our drive to Fullerton ('round 12:30pm or so, to get there a little early).
Guess what time my talk was? 12:30pm.
Guess what time I realized that? 12:10pm, when I printed out the emails we'd need in the car on the drive over to Fullerton for "my 2pm talk."
Son of a FUCK!
I am mortified and bummed and pissed and all that other good stuff.
Good one, Mercury Retrograde. I thought I was going to escape your wrath this time out, as I've been soooooo on top of everything these few weeks (and not without a huge expense of energy, patience, diplomacy, and grace). Nicely played, waiting 'til your last hours to be sure I got a good ass-kicking.
Now, go away. Thank you.
Posted by bonnie at 1:22 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 28, 2008
Candidate Match (with Bobbleheads!)
So, that was fun! ;)
I saw on the morning news a "Candidate Match" generator thingy, so I went and plugged in my opinions on issues and found out who the computer says I should vote for.
And then I went and got bobbleheads for my computer-generated top three! :) Hee!
JOHN EDWARDS:
HILLARY CLINTON:
BARACK OBAMA:
And then, just because it was so dang cute, I had to get a little bobbling-HUCKABEE:
Seriously! Mouse over his little head! Heeeeeee!
I'm so easily amused.
Posted by bonnie at 7:54 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 19, 2008
Easy 15-Step Method for Importing Your "Juno" Soundtrack CD into iTunes
1. Buy Juno soundtrack on CD rather than downloading from Rhino Records' website because you want to qualify for "Super Saver" shipping when ordering your husband's early birthday present (Family Guy's "Blue Harvest" episode special collectors' edition).
2. Pop Juno soundtrack CD into your Mac Sid's CD drive and watch iTunes launch, run a quick scan, show a brief glimpse of a dialogue box that includes things like "gathering artwork and liner notes," and then no longer recognize the CD.
3. Visit your desktop to try clicking on the CD from its icon. Find no icon representing said CD on desktop.
4. Have husband pop CD into the CD drive on his old Linux box.
5. Have husband launch something called "Sound Juicer."
6. Learn husband cannot extract as MP3 due to lack of MP3 encoder on Linux box.
7. Have husband extract as something called "FLAC" format.
8. Have husband FTP FLAC files to his Mac (The Chicklet).
9. Have husband open FLAC files using something called "Toast."
10. Have husband export FLAC files as .MP4 files.
11. Launch Fetch from Sid and connect to husband's Mac (The Chicklet).
12. FTP self .MP4 files.
13. Drag individual .MP4 files into iTunes.
14. Get artwork and other bullshit from the iTunes store.
15. Have a nice day.
Happy early birthday, honey.
Posted by bonnie at 8:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 14, 2008
Can I Just Say?
I am so looking forward to the end of this silliness.
That's right. There's only one more chance for you to wear your goofy New Year Glasses, folks. God bless you, 2010. Can't wait.
In other news, I'm in that annoying stage of the illness (seriously, there's this Hollywood Crud going around like crazy) that is no longer feeling like I'm sick yet I am incapable of speaking without going into a ten-minute coughing fit. It's lovely. I'm coughing more than I'm not coughing... and it's just that dry, nothing cough. Keeps me from getting any sleep. And well, that's just delightful. For everyone.
What else? Made cast offers on two roles today, which is always fun. One is to an "OMG HUGE" celeb and the other is to, well, an also pretty huge celeb type and that offer has already been met with an, "extremely excited" response. The fact that both of these offers are coming off pitches is huge. Oh, I love my job!
Gotta get this throat in order. Wanna meet with Blake and do Tuesdays@9 tomorrow, have to be better in time for SAG CAP on Wednesday, and we shoot two test scenes for the showcase web-series on Thursday. Not un-busy. STOP COUGHING!
That is all.
Posted by bonnie at 8:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 1, 2008
Help me understand this, please.
Now, I've not done much "office time" in my working life. (Some. Enough. Believe me; enough. Rolling around on a plastic pad behind a desk gives me hives.)
But I've never seen one of these. (Still haven't in real life. Just saw it while perusing porn. ("porn" = "the Staples catalogue") And it seemed odd.)
I mean, I understand needing a tape dispenser. We have one. But with TWO rolls of tape? (One Scotch Transparent, one Scotch Magic, per the photo in the catalogue.) Because sometimes you need both types of tape within a very limited span of time and having to reach farther away than an inch would mean crisis in your office?
Just wondering.
PS--Goooooooooooooooo DAWGS!!
Posted by bonnie at 6:19 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 19, 2007
A-ha!
So, here's what happens when it rains in Southern California.
(Well, when your phone box crap lives outside.)
(Exposed.)
(To the elements.)
You have no phone for 40 hours. (But you have DSL and TiVo connectivity, proving it's not a line-inside-the-house issue.)
Hee!
I have to say, I enjoyed the break.
Let it rain again, baby! :)
Posted by bonnie at 10:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 18, 2007
You'd Think.
You would think that I would enjoy a day in which my phone is out of service (seriously. "Ringing busy" to callers and no dialtone here, although we have TiVo and DSL connectivity).
That I'd love the calm. The quiet. Goes with the rain, right?
Instead, I'm anxious that I'm missing some key calls regarding... well... a few new deals I have brewing (yup, it's true. I'm gonna EP a movie in 2008).
Enjoy the quiet, Bon.
I'm workin' on it. ;)
Posted by bonnie at 6:30 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 30, 2007
Just Perfect!
A super-busy week, filled with meetings and events and go, go, go. Loads of wonderful news and lovely people.
Followed by a 36-hour stretch of time when I don't have to leave my frickin' house.
...and it's raining.
...and I can play with Sid and Nancy all the live-long day.
Meet Sid. 
Meet Nancy. 
(Thanks, Honey. I love you too. And congratulations.)
Posted by bonnie at 3:55 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 28, 2007
The Ghost of Brenda Future
Okay, so I'm a huge 90210 fan. Huge.
Clearly.
So, this weekend, while I'm watching the best of the best show (ie: 90210--The Brenda Years), there's a commercial for a MOW starring none other than the lovely Shannen Doherty... as someone obviously wearing "age makeup." I mean, she has to have been cast as a ghost of her future or something, right?
Don't believe how bad it is? Click the above photo to see a little movie file I nabbed from the TV (excuse the audio--it's a digital still camera that, surprise, can shoot short little movies. Something I discovered just that moment. Hee!).
Did she piss off hair and makeup? The lighting guys? Everyone? I mean, the MOW looks bad enough... but WOW. She is looking way more than her 36 years (um... I'm 37. I don't have that many wrinkles. Egad! Do I?!? You'd tell me, right?) now.
I'll just focus on the "good ol' days." The Brenda Years. *sigh*
Posted by bonnie at 5:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 5, 2007
Message Board Culture and Etiquette
[Note: This is a repost from the Showfax message board.]
Author: Bonnie Gillespie, Location: Hollywood, Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:10pm
(Showfax Bob, please feel free to move this is if you deem it appropriate. I just felt compelled to post this and figured the "Whatever" section might be the least controversial place. If you like it and want to make it a sticky admin post or something, knock yerself out.)
Now, before I launch into some long post about message board culture and etiquette, let me state for the record that I have been a member of many online forums (most of them acting related) for well over a decade and I have also been the admin/moderator of a handful of online forums (most of them acting related).
One of my favorite analogies about the "feel" of a message board comes from something I read a long, long time ago. I've seen it adapted and shared at many, many message boards over the years, but first read it back in the '90s (when I was in grad school for my PhD in Instructional Technology--I am *not* kidding--and studying online communities and their potential as sources of educational exchanges).
"Treat a message board like a cocktail party. If you walk up to a group of people who are already talking, be considerate that you are joining *their* party in progress, and even if the door to the party was wide open, for most first-time visitors, it's not like the party's host has invited you and walked you over to a group to introduce you around. You're coming in on your own and probably want to say a polite hello, introduce yourself, give a little context on why you might feel a certain way about a certain topic, and then jump in and join the debate already in progress."
I mention this because I notice that those who lurk for a while and then post a, "Hi. I'm posting for the first time, here. I've read the posts and I get that you guys have a lot of experience at a bunch of different levels. Here's my question and here's what I've already experienced--so you can get an idea of my starting point and what research I've already attempted," tend to get a much warmer reception, receive much more assistance from the regulars, and--amazingly--receive much more ON-TARGET advice than "others" (see more about "others" below).
Think about it. If you walked into a room where a group of people were talking--even if the debate was heated and emotional--and immediately started sharing your POV without any context, any means of introduction to the group, and a complete sense of expectation that everyone should respect your POV (as if they fully KNOW your previous experience level and "get" you, going in) with NO questions asked, you'd be considered a loon. Yet that happens on message boards EVERY day.
And the advantage really DOES go to the lurker-turned-poster, because he or she GETS the people who are already active members of the community. Those members, on the other hand, have NO context within which to understand that new poster. It's like seeing someone famous in public. You feel like you know them because you've seen their movies, you've read their interviews, you've had them into your home via the TV for years. Yet if you were to just start talking to them with no introduction, no background info, no, "Hi. Big fan. Excuse me a moment. Can I ask you a question," type lead-in--y'know, as if you're VERY intimately aware of who this person is--that would be odd. But it's WORSE if you also EXPECT that person to have an intimate awareness of YOU and where YOU come from and how YOU think.
The "others" I mentioned above are those who post for the first time without giving much context for the regulars to go on.
That--in and of itself--is not a BAD thing. It just causes the quality of early replies to be (at best) not terribly helpful.
But when the inevitable smackdown comes from the "new poster," there is always this indignant attitude of, "Don't you know who I am?!? Don't you know how much experience I have? How DARE you assume that just because this is my first post I don't have dozens of years of experience in the industry and a career you would covet if I actually bothered to post under my real name?"
And that is usually followed by a barrage of, "You guys are a bunch of meanies. You're a group of elitist snobs who are only out for yourselves. If a new poster comes in here and doesn't toe the party line, he or she is attacked and forced to storm off in a huff or prove that he or she can stand up to you mean, mean meanies."
Followed by a prompt exit or (hopefully) an attitude adjustment and a long, productive future on the message board, with a much better understanding of the culture and etiquette--because now he or she is a part of it.
Are we all going to get along?
No.
Even those of us who have been posting on this and other message boards together for YEARS don't all get along.
That's not what this post is about.
It's an attempt to encourage those of you who are posting for the first time (here or anywhere else, really) and who feel attacked or misunderstood or challenged for expressing strong opinions without any sort of context for whether the machismo is merited TO THINK OF THIS LIKE A COCKTAIL PARTY.
Of course, we all want to enjoy our time here. We may want to help others or get help from others. We may want to celebrate one another's accomplishments and enjoy one another's stories and encourage one another when we're on the low side of things.
But there is a bit of culture and etiquette to acknowledge and (hopefully) respect.
Posting without doing a SEARCH of existing posts first is like walking in and screaming, "WHERE IS THE ICE?" when the ice is in the area clearly marked "ice" and there's a sign on one of the other walls pointing to the ice. You've just interrupted a bunch of conversations to ask an easily-answered question (and made yourself look like someone who either can't read signs or can't be bothered to do such a thing--neither of which is a good first impression to make).
Posting as if you know everything about any topic without first sharing a bit about you and your credentials is like walking up to a group of people at the party and insisting you know everything about that topic "because I said so," and you're too cool or too important to be bothered with providing the backup that would get you INSTANT respect. Now... if you've neglected to share your credentials at the beginning of the dialogue, that's okay! You can include a link to your IMDB page or professional website in your PROFILE or within your posts' signatures. Consider that the same thing as at least wearing a nametag when you walk into the party so we know who we're dealing with. Want to check the credentials of those who are already regulars at this party? Check their profile, check their signature block, check previous posts in which they've given a great deal of "back story" on who they are and what their cred is.
Lurking is the same as watching the party from just outside. You can see and hear what's going on, but no one has the advantage of getting to know YOU in the same way. At first, you'll feel very familiar with the partygoers, because you know their style, you get their sense of humor, you know when someone is crossing a line and when that same someone is just teasing an old friend. Don't get mad when you're not given that same sense of "I get you" right away. How could the partygoers "get you" when you've been observing them and they've had no opportunity to observe you? Your sense of humor, your style, your POV are all brand new to the partygoers until you've been around awhile. Help 'em warm up to you by giving a little orientation to YOU before leaping right into the conversations and demanding the same level of respect those who were already conversing have for one another.
Getting a message board smackdown (or even a light reprimand or slap on the wrist) is nothing to make you run away in disgust. Think of it like a host telling you you've parked your car in front of a neighbor's driveway or asking you to use a coaster when you put down your drink. You've come into someone else's party and the host is very graciously providing you with munchies and drinks without asking you to chip in. And if a fellow partygoer is the one to ask you to use a coaster, don't get all huffy thinking that only the host can tell you you've committed a party foul. Just like at any party, having someone who has been there before warn you about parking in a towaway zone or suggesting that you use a coaster before the host freaks out on you is just a, "Hey, you're new to the party" courtesy. Some are more gruff than others in the way they may speak to you. That's life at the party and online.
One of my least favorite message board behaviors is something that is a little more difficult to put into the cocktail party analogy. It's the phenomenon I call "I'm gonna take my toys and go home!" Posters who have contributed to quite a few threads decide at some point that they're DONE with the message board. They're leaving the party. But first they're going to erase all evidence that they were ever there. They delete every post they've made. They trash entire discussions by removing all sense of context that existed when any other poster answered them, because now their original questions are gone. Unless the replying posters have QUOTED their original text, this behavior leaves holes in the "history" of the message board and really disrupts some very good discussions. I guess the best way to bring that to a party analogy would be if the party were a gift exchange and each attendee brought three gifts for the big tub of donations that were going over to the children's hospital later. And before this one poster decides to BOLT on the party, he runs over to the tub and fishes out all of the gifts he brought. Now they are gone. And worse, they were part of a WHOLE that is now somehow lacking. (Basically, it's like tearing pages out of a book that could inform and educate others for years to come. It's a dick move, based wholly in ego, and it's just plain rude.)
Coming in and selling a product or service in your very first post is like showing up uninvited to a party wearing a sandwich board and ringing a bell. You will either be ignored as "that crazy person in the foyer" or asked to leave. If you stay, you will be laughed at by some, ignored by some, and challenged by some. Of course, most shills show up at the doorstep, shout, "Buy my thing," and then run to the next party down the block, so this isn't an issue for most. But for those shills who like to check back and see how their post is doing a little later, this part of the etiquette list is for you. Earn the trust of your potential customers before you crash their party and yell at them, then call them idiots or sad, bitter skeptics for not throwing open their wallets for you.
One of the message boards I ran a few years back had three key "fixes" to problems I saw at other message boards. No non-registered user could lurk. So, basically, we had to know you were AT the party for you to have access to its goodies. Also, I disabled the edit/delete feature so that EVERYONE was accountable for what he or she said--no take-backs. No pretending that it never happened (heck, even here, your original post goes out on the RSS feed, so even after editing and/or deleting, the info is still "out there" for those of us who really geek out). And I required all members to sign up using their REAL names. I noticed at other message boards where this sort of thing was a requirement that the posters were far more respectful of one another when their true identity was known. Very little of the seriously childish, obnoxious message board behavior we see from time to time, when the members of the community were clearly identified.
But, hey, I don't run this message board (and the one I ran with those three "fixes" in place--I don't run anymore. And that should tell you something). Running a message board is a thankless, time-consuming, babysitting-like job for which there isn't enough time or energy in this kid to endure.
Just like hosting a big party, there's a lot of prep, there's a lot of drama among folks who want to get you all up in the business of everyone else who is there, stuff gets broken, and pretty much NO ONE stays to help you clean up when the party is over.
All this to say, please consider this place a fun little cocktail party to which you have open, anonymous access. Observing the general guidelines of its culture and etiquette is of course optional, but it's good to know what the deal is (I hope). Beyond that, saying thank you to our host Showfax Bob is probably the LEAST we can do.
(Psst--hey, Bob? Thank you.)
Posted by bonnie at 10:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 21, 2007
CricketFeet.com email outage! Bleh!
Okay, so it seems that the Cricket Feet mail server had some DNS record weirdness between the time stamps of 11:47am on 20 September 2007 and 3:16am 21 September 2007.
So, any mail sent during that stretch of time to any address ending in "cricketfeet.com," "hollywoodhappyhour.com," or "faithsalie.com" never made it. Bonus: No sender received a bounceback of any kind.
So, not only do we not know who *might* have sent us email, but they do not know we didn't receive it. Neat, huh?
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Now... I what? Email anyone who *might* have reached out to say, "Hey, um... didn't get it," or just look like the a-hole who never wrote back to who knows what?
Ugh.
Wondered why I was able to get so much done yesterday. No email!
PS--The BonBlogs currently have 3333 comments. That amuses me. Geek.
Posted by bonnie at 10:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 2, 2007
Three Geeky Things
1. Last night I made a really yummy Zucchini Gratin. YUM!
2. Self-Management for Actors is apparently huge in China.
3. My new best friend is an iPhone (no, it's not mine; yes, I'm still another couple of years away from splurging on another expensive toy, but MAN is it cool).
Posted by bonnie at 1:49 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
May 10, 2007
Hee! Look at me!
This was cute. Jonathan showed me how to do it.
I'm so easily amused. And yes, you totally know I'm wearing jeans on the red carpet. Duh.
Back to work. Big casting meeting in 11.5 hours. Woo! Stay tuned. Breakdown afoot.
Posted by bonnie at 12:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 4, 2007
Well now!
That's pretty dang cool! Lookee this!
Thanks for reading, y'all! Yippee!
Posted by bonnie at 11:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 27, 2007
Dear, sweet waitress at Beechwood.
Yes. I am over 21.
Thank you for asking.
*giggle*
Posted by bonnie at 11:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 23, 2007
What are my Gmail Sponsored Links telling me?
Um... I know I've been making out with Keith a lot in public lately, but this sponsored link in my Gmail account has me a little weirded out.
Sponsored Link
Cuddle Party Los Angeles - www.cuddlela.com - Check out this amazing way to get touch needs met, expectation-free.
Apparently, there's an event down on the 3rd Street Promenade tomorrow. Who's with me?
Posted by bonnie at 11:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 7, 2007
And the winner is...
Ed!
I'm home from happy hour (er... hour. Yeah) and I have comments in holding as follows:
Cliff: 43 minutes ago
Jennie: 2 hours, 37 minutes ago
Susan Jones: 5 hours, 31 minutes ago
Julie: 5 hours, 39 minutes ago
drc: 5 hours, 48 minutes ago
Ed R: 6 hours ago
Go, Ed! Well-earned. Thanks for stalking me. ;) Hee! (I kid, I kid. Thanks for the love, all of you!)
Posted by bonnie at 1:27 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 6, 2007
The next comment made...
will be #3000 at the BonBlogs.
Who's it gonna be?
(All comments on moderation 'til I get home from happy hour, so you can't find out who's first before I do. Heh heh. I'm such a geek.)
Posted by bonnie at 7:03 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
January 25, 2007
First Shot at Money Stuff
Okay, we've had a movie date (and while I loved Casino Royale, I think that five hours is far too long for a movie).
What? It wasn't five hours? Are you sure?
Anyway, the trip to the MAC store helped soothe my patience (and I love my new lipgloss). And now I'm going to work on our corporate taxes for 2006. I assume this will take several weeks, so if I don't come up for any kind of air anytime soon, please send for help.
I cannot believe I'm even attempting this first "stacking of receipts into categories" stage without booze.
Posted by bonnie at 8:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 23, 2007
Too much? Too little? Just right?
I lunched today with two actors who read my blog.
One thinks I don't update my blog enough.
One thinks I update my blog too frequently to keep up with as it is.
Who is right? Do you need more BonBlogging? Less?
Operators are standing by.
Posted by bonnie at 10:52 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
January 22, 2007
Vote for Julie-O!
The lovely Julie-O (longtime member of the Cricket Feet Publishing Proofer Patrol) is a finalist in the Gadget Candy poll. Look for "Miss O'Gadget" and cast your vote. Why?
Look at the contents of her purse!
I think I need a bigger bag... or a new Apple iPhone so I can consolidate my electronics!
1) Canon PowerShot A430 Digital Camera in red case (case only shown - camera took this photo)
2) Curel Hand cream
3) Eyeglasses in brown case
4) Blackberry 8700c (work cell phone) with belt clip
5) Sweater defuzz machine
6) Car charger plug w/USB port (works with Palm, both iPods, Blackberry, and Jabra headset)
7) iPod 3G 10GB (for work mix to plug into speakers)
8) iPod Shuffle 2G (for gym)
9) Sony-Ericsson T68i (personal cell phone) in black leather phone thong
10) Palm Tungsten E (with black leather case, not shown)
11) iPod earphones in round zipper case
12) iPod Auxiliary cable to plug into car stereo
13) iPod Shuffle DLO PowerBug with USB cable
14) Jabra headset USB power cable (works with USB port on computer or with car charger)
15) Jabra BT500 Bluetooth Headset (works with both Blackberry and T68i phones)
16) Olympus WS-300M Digital Voice recorder (with grey felt bag)
17) Business Card case (contains two different type of business cards)
18) Antique Silver Cigarette Case (contains ciggies and lighter)
19) Wallet (red - contains cash, credit cards, ID, insurance cards, auto registration documents)
20) Comb
21) Keys (included on keyring are various store club card dongles and Public Library card)
22) Nail file
23) Purple mesh Makeup bag w/powder, lipstick, Visene eye drops, Aleve pain meds
24) Gum
25) Stuffed Lobster toy that squeaks (for keeping me occupied whilst I'm in traffic)
(Not shown -- black hairband, tin of Smith's Rosebud Salve, 2 ball point pens, Blistex lip balm, and a small LED flashlight)
C'mon, that girl DESERVES this prize!!!!
Posted by bonnie at 11:25 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 16, 2007
Learning Curve
So, I have this new toy. (And it would seem I now have something in common with LL Cool J.)
After EIGHT YEARS on Palm OS (most of that time on something made by Handspring, may it rest in peace), I decided it was time to join the BlackBerry revolution and retire the SixHundy (which was the object of ridicule three years ago: "Dude! That is such a huge phone!" -- to which I would reply: "Dude! But it is such a small computer"), mainly because I've been losing contacts through the sync process between the Treo and Entourage on my Mac.
So, I'm not entirely convinced that I'm a total convert (this may turn out to be like those hazy years in the late '90s when I bought a Compaq after ten years on a Mac -- and after which I would run back into the Apple's warm embrace), but I have been enjoying the delight of my near-8000 contacts being *almost* totally and completely synced up between TEN email accounts on both my laptop and handheld. THIS is good.
And LOOK at this CUTE case I just ordered!!! It's PINK! Hee!
Anyway... *ahem*
Despite the cricked neck (oh, and thanks for the vibes on that, y'all. I've decided tomorrow noon is THE END of this mess. I will it so), I've been trying to focus on how to use my new toy. I had forgotten about the learning curve involved with such things. And where the heck are all of the online forums for BlackBerry users? I used to be able to Google a phrase about my Palm Pilot and find a hundred useful discussion threads going on.
Is learning how to set up a mail filter in my BlackBerry inbox classified information?
Ah well, I'll continue to Google 'til my last Vicodin kicks in. I am inspired to learn that I might be able to manage my many Casting Wikis using my handheld. That's pretty dang exciting.
===========
7:35pm update: Ooh, joy! Oh, rapture! I have found three really great online sources for info. A fantastic discussion forum, a BlackBerry Wiki (y'know THAT turns me on), and this is where I can edit my email filters and signature file. Yippee! Loves me some Google!
Posted by bonnie at 6:25 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 9, 2007
Dear TiVo,
I have a request for enhanced service.
It's not enough that I can give a thumbs up to a show. I need to be able to give a qualified thumbs up. Like, always tape 90210, but only The Brenda Years.
Yeah. Call it the "jump the shark" button. Like, I want you to always grab Roseanne, but only the early seasons when the show was funny. Pretty much after Becky's hair got butched by Rosie IRL in the dressing room, you can stop taping those.
Thanks,
-Bon.
(whose nose is still bloody)
Posted by bonnie at 4:24 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 29, 2006
Your Opinions, Please
Like most well-intentioned folks on the planet, I started out this year putting all of my receipts and banking statements directly into Quick Books or whatever the hell kind of imperfect software we bought after having worked SO DAMN HARD on taxes in early 2006 and resolving, "Never again!" to the "playing catch-up" routine with corporate finances, come tax time.
Cut to December 29th... I think I have imported online banking statements twice in 2006 (but I have print-outs to fill in the rest, of course) and that corporate tax deadline of March 15th is coming faster than I'd like, especially with as much casting work as I already have laid out for first quarter 2007.
So...
Do I *bother* putting all of this crap into the software or just do the old-fashioned pen-and-paper version that has worked so well (but that takes maddeningly longer to do each year, as you'd expect from a growing corporation)? I mean, I can see spending something like THREE STRAIGHT DAYS (and those are three straight Bonnie days with very little sleep) inputting data and then STILL having to do two weeks of my pen-and-paper stuff if the software sucks as much as I think it does.
*sigh*
When do I get to have one of those accountants to whose office you show up with boxes of receipts and a check for services (rather than one to whose office I have to show up with everything WAY organized)?
*stomp* *pout*
Posted by bonnie at 8:29 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 17, 2006
More Casting Numbers
Oh, I just love crunching the numbers. Now, you know this is all Actor Mind Taffy, so don't overthink any of this. Just enjoy and observe.
• 51% of the taped preread sessions will not be viewed again (producers were there for prereads in the room, so they decided right then who they needed to see again)
• 49% of the taped prereads will go up on the server for producers to review and discuss, as we cut the list down further
• 20% of the actors we scheduled for auditions didn't show up (this is actually a really low percentage, among casting directors in Los Angeles)
• 48% of the actors who did not show up were unconfirmed no-shows
• 32% of the actors who did not show up left a message to say they couldn't make it
• 20% of the actors who did not show up were confirmed no-show, no-call (now blacklisted) types
We had one crasher.
The breakdown went out one month ago today. We have had 7804 electronic submissions from 384 different agents or managers, have seen 254 actors in person (including name actor meetings), and have cast three roles (yippee)! Of those three cast actors, two were submitted and one was a straight offer with no pitch. Ten actors have put auditions on tape from out of town (so far. I'm expecting a bunch of tapes Monday). Before beginning live auditions, we reviewed 588 demo reels online.
Okay, now the really geeky stuff.
Of the actors we saw at prereads, 75% use staples to attach their headshots and resumés, 12% do NOT attach them, 6% print the resumés onto the backs of the headshots, 3% glue them on, and another 2% brought no resumé at all (just a photo). Only eight actors didn't bring a headshot at all! Word's getting out!
About 3% of actors don't have contact information on their headshots and resumés. And 72% of actors trim their resumés to the size of their headshots. Only 13% of actors have horizontal headshots (another 8% do that cool horizontal on the vertical style I love so much). Color headshots came in at a whopping 92%.
Any questions?
Posted by bonnie at 2:16 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
December 7, 2006
Two Things (Maybe Three)
The Roomba needs training...
...(it's like a Furbie... it requires a little coaching).
We're big geeks, because Santa brought me a Roomba and Keith a credit card-strength cross-cut shredder. Seriously. We're all about the romance.
I totally won. And everyone who agrees with Keith lives overseas. Or is Canadian. Same diff. Free books at HHH. Whoop! (Fun bag-filling party with the Lovely Laura Lock tonight, BTW.)
Posted by bonnie at 10:31 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
December 6, 2006
Opinions Please
I'm not going to tell you whose opinion is which in this situation (consider it like the ants vs. fleas debate that I totally won three years ago).
I have five copies of Self-Management for Actors that came back undeliverable, when we tried to mail them to people ages ago. They're autographed TO those people (casting directors, contributors, etc.).
Keith and I do not agree with one another on whether it would be appropriate to leave them out on a "freebies" table at Hollywood Happy Hour on Monday, so that anyone who wants 'em can have 'em, even though they were originally intended for other people.
Your opinion?
Posted by bonnie at 12:56 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack
November 25, 2006
Broken Windows and Blue Men
So, if you've been keeping up with the numbers for Broken Windows submissions, you'll like this update.
As of Saturday the 25th at 7:30pm:
UNVIEWED.....VIEWED.....SELECTED.....SCHEDULED.....CALLBACK.....ROLE
12.....509.....279.....0.....0.....SARA
3.....70.....118.....0.....0.....TEDDY
4.....199.....105.....0.....0.....KATIE
15.....430.....263.....0.....0.....NATE
7.....202.....177.....0.....0.....BETH
10.....414.....201.....0.....0.....AMY
13.....428.....274.....0.....0.....WALT
3.....223.....107.....0.....0.....DJ
2.....1.....57.....0.....0.....BRIAN
11.....540.....244.....0.....0.....JOEY
7.....211.....150.....0.....0.....STEVE
1.....33.....54.....0.....0.....MARY
4.....93.....112.....0.....0.....DORI
0.....97.....89.....0.....0.....BENNIE
9.....895.....289.....0.....0.....WAITRESS
2.....14.....16.....0.....0.....WOMAN HIT BY CAR
0.....52.....39.....0.....0.....TEENAGED BOY
All of the numbers added together equal the total submissions. (I'll let y'all do the math.) Hee!
Anyway, that's submissions after one week and one day. Including days like Thanksgiving and "everyone is out of town" weekends. Pretty impressive. This is a big project. We have formal offers out to "name" actors on a couple of role. The pitches have been really dang cool. I'm excited.
I am LOVING the PBS special on Blue Man Group (Inside the Tube). I saw them in their original venue off-off Broadway in 1996 and I still can't imagine what their show must be like in such a large presentation (the theatre I went to had about 75 seats).
Anyway, migraine hell seems to be about over. I've done a lot of sleeping to try and recover from it. Still feel like I've been hit by a bus, but I guess I've felt much worse many times before. But coming that close to a "real" migraine for the first time in two years is scary stuff. Hate hate HATE that I had to miss Thanksgiving, but what'r'ya'gonna'do? When a migraine starts up, you hit the cold, dark, quiet room and stay put.
*sigh*
Back to work! Ooh! COPS is on! Yippee!
Posted by bonnie at 7:51 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 8, 2006
I Want a Roomba for a Wrong Reason
I really want a Roomba.
I've wanted one for at least a year and a half now, but I think I've now realized WHY I want one.
It's like a socially approved method of torture for the animals.
That's gotta be worth the couple hundred bucks, right? (Click here for a great example/puppy-torture video.)
Posted by bonnie at 11:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 3, 2006
Jury Duty Again!
So, longtime readers of the BonBlogs will recall that I turned my last experience with jury duty into a little journal, exploring the intricacies of baffling human behavior.
Well, just got my summons for service starting 11 December, four years or so after my last trip. Not bad, really. I think it's no big deal, since I can do one of my jobs (writing) just as easily while waiting in a jury pool. As long as they let me bring in a notepad and a pen, I'm earning money somehow.
Last time, I was downtown (but we lived in the Hollywood Hills, so it wasn't too far, really). And when Keith got called to serve earlier this year, he had to go downtown (and was pissed, seeing as we had moved ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE BEACH. Seriously, we're so effin' spoiled. Going east of the 405 is like making a day trip. It's obnoxious how 310-snobby we've become). Anyway, this time, I'm set for a court by LAX, and that's like right down the street! Woo!
I'm actually pretty stoked about doing jury duty at a new venue. But I'm a dork. I used to look forward to fluoride treatments at the dentist. *shrug* The fact that I am a dork isn't news. I know.
Posted by bonnie at 1:02 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
October 22, 2006
The Duck?
I know someone at MTV must've realized this, because there are NEW flags and logos that don't look like this.
Didn't the first version of the MTV The Duel flag look like it said The Duck? Yes. I think it did. Quack, quack.
Oh, and can someone in Texas please vote like mad for Tiffany? We need some clicks in that big-ass state. 31 watermelons.
Posted by bonnie at 11:41 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 2, 2006
Hee!
How much do I love my sister in law?
So much!
Lookee what she sent me!! Hello Kitty PEZ, baby! Heeeeee! Thanks, Liz. you rule!
Posted by bonnie at 5:55 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
September 28, 2006
Email Down
Just wanted to say that if you've sent an email to me (or Keith or anyone else we've given addresses to) at any of the CricketFeet.com email addresses (or HollywoodHappyHour.com addresses or FaithSalie.com addresses) since 3:20pm today, I've not received it.
And they have no idea whether I WILL receive it when the servers are brought back online. Lovely, huh?
Their live chat was so dang helpful... "If you didn't receive any emails when the server is brought back online, please contact our admin for resending." What?!? How will I know whether I didn't receive an email if the person who sent it thinks it got to me (since they put out NO error messages or anything)? Am I supposed to send an email to everyone who MIGHT have sent me an email today, letting them know I didn't get it?
Brilliant.
Yes, I did contact those MOST LIKELY to be making contact to ask them to CC my GMail email account for now... but son of a BITCH, when will this crud be over? Bleh! Technology. Bleh! Oh well... at least I'm getting caught up on mail I'm SENDING (since my ability to send mail hasn't been compromised... of course no one had better reply anytime soon). Grr.
Vent over. Life is otherwise 100% good. (Oh, and I could watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip like constantly. Not since season one of Nip/Tuck have I been so in love with a show that I want to watch it again the INSTANT the credits roll.)
Posted by bonnie at 11:01 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
September 22, 2006
When Andy Dick Arrives, It's Time To Go
Maybe everyone else in Hollywood knows this, but I'm pretty new to The Big Hollywood Private Party thing. So, you have to understand, when Keith and I arrived at the Stone Rose and my name was *actually* on the list, I was already thrilled and amazed. (No, it's not that I thought Jessica was "just being nice" -- heck, she'd invited me even before I'd interviewed her -- it's just the usual nervous doing something new for the first time thing.) But there are pretty much always random famous people at industry parties.
First up, Greg Grunberg. We'd been at the party for about an hour. We'd done the cool schmooze with most of the film's stars and crew members, plus a few of Jessica's best friends (all of whom were really thrilled with the article I had written) and a couple of actors she's hoping to have "break out" with my help (hey... if I can help, GREAT! I'll try). We'd had a couple of cocktails and a few nibbles of the yummy food they kept putting out, and found a great little spot to sit on the awesome patio. Soon, another couple leaned over, introduced themselves (I think we all joked about the shrimp or something), and when Greg came over to join them, he was introduced to us as well. Shake hands, all cool, blah blah blah. So, he's not really involved with this project but he knows the people. Same as me at this point, right? Right. No weirdness.
And then there's Kevin Sorbo. Kevin Sorbo? Really? Hmm. Well, that's kind of cool. I can't figure what his attachment to this group might be (nor is it any of my business to do so, really), but he's enjoying himself and people are enjoying him, so I figure maybe there's some other project in the works and that's just how this town works. Or, heck, maybe people are just friends with famous people and invite them like anyone else. It's just that it's a little odd somehow. And it shouldn't be (and it isn't, when I know the celeb... but it's weird when I don't).
So when Alfonso Ribeiro shows up, it's getting a little late. We've now had more than a few cocktails, Keith has told "the luckiest man in the world" story, my DVD cover has been autographed by a half-dozen members of the cast (and Jessica, of course), and I've been pegged as "and guest" in a handful of photos by random photographers. Fair enough. Alfonso is working the room. Keith approaches him to remind him that we know people in common (Alfonso directed an episode of a TV show our friend starred in, and we went to a taping, blah blah blah) and it's clear the man has women on his mind (and Keith's in his way). Very funny watching someone who shouldn't have to work at it having to REALLY work at it (it's like being at a college bar at last call and seeing the BMOC doing whatever it takes to go home with someone... even though he should be able to go home with anyone anytime anyway, right?).
Enter Andy Dick. Now something happens. Most of the crowd has gone by now. The servers are clearing off the tables to make room for these enormous cotton candy platters and other yummy dessert items. Everyone is hugging Jessica and her publicist goodnight and saying thank you and congrats. Most importantly: The tab has been closed. It's like Andy Dick walks in and The National Anthem plays on an old-timey TV station (sign-off 'til morning). But it gets louder, more frenetic, and bizarrely more "Hollywood" all of a sudden. I feel like I'm at a rave. Still, I head over to Andy to ask whether his recent emails to the director of a film I'm casting are actually coming from him (and I should be approaching him about doing the project) or not. "Yeah, I don't really DO the online thing. If she's hearing from 'me' through MySpace or something, it's my web guy, not me." (Note to self: Never have someone think they're hearing from "me" when it's really "my people" doing the correspondence. At least be true in that respect.)
So, maybe the rest of the world knows that when Andy Dick arrives, it's time to go. I learned it for myself on Monday. So, we left the Stick It DVD party and went to Dan Tana's, where I spent the rest of the night groping my friends, slamming too many free drinks, and talking about Oliver Freaking Stone.
(And, apparently, where I lowered my tolerance to the point that, come Wednesday morning, I was laid out with some sort of flu that I'm still fighting. Bleh. Oh well... well-earned, I s'pose.)
Posted by bonnie at 4:21 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
September 8, 2006
Our Celebrity Faces
This is cool.
Posted by bonnie at 4:39 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 4, 2006
My Old Boyfriend Is Better Than My New Boyfriend
Look at the cool wall Chip has in his house.
Why won't Keith let me do this here? *stomp* *pout*
Posted by bonnie at 12:24 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
September 2, 2006
Explain this:
My husband spent $100 on a book. It arrived today. He carefully cut into the package. Removed the book. Looked at it lovingly. Thumbed through it. (All of this took about 90 seconds.)
He then put the book back into the box and taped it back up.
"Sending it back?" I asked.
"Nope."
He labeled the box "Champions 25th Anniversary Edition" and put it up on a very high shelf.
"You don't even want to take a picture of it?" I asked.
"Nope."
Ooooookay.
Posted by bonnie at 1:32 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 1, 2006
Happy September
As Keith and I went for our walk last night, he mentioned that yesterday was Maria Montessori's birthday.
So, happy birthday to the woman responsible for the way my brain works and the many, many, MANY hours I spent in detention once I left her program for public school.
Posted by bonnie at 4:18 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 31, 2006
Kids Today
Or... "How I Know I'm Old."
We live across the street from a school.
And 99% of the time, that's cool. But there's this week or two right after the new school year begins during which I get that I'm way old now.
It's before the kids are beaten into submission by the teachers and their rules. It's while they still believe that they own the planet (and, c'mon... they do). And it's when the last bell of the day sounds... and they (the newly-licensed children with their newly-gifted cars) hop in and REV everything there is to rev.
And it's loud here for about a half-hour.
Where is my cane?
Posted by bonnie at 3:14 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 23, 2006
Two for Two
We've bought lottery tickets the past two rounds. We've won both times. Granted, it was $3 on the last one, $2 on this one, but that's still a pretty good little winning streak, as far as I'm concerned. I like the win... even the little win.
Posted by bonnie at 3:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 22, 2006
All Your Snakes Are Belong To Us
So, after visiting Chip's entry (with a clip of THE LINE from Snakes on a Plane), I went to YouTube to see if I could find a clip with the type of audience reaction WE experienced, here in Hollywood. Y'know, with people jumping to their feet, screaming with delight... and I mean a hundred or so folks doing that at once.
What I found instead was this clip... which I adore. Seriously awesome.
Posted by bonnie at 5:17 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
August 19, 2006
I Give Up
I've blogged about this before. I have nearly 10,000 contacts in my Entourage and I can now (somewhat) sync those up to my Palm Pilot, but I lose all sorts of labels and can only have ONE street address, birthdays don't get merged into my calendar anymore, etc. So, it's not perfect. It's more like a backup than a dual-platform tool anymore.
After reading a post on Lifehacker about syncing data, I revisited my address book issues and imported all of my contacts into a new Gmail account. Which I now cannot use. Yup. There are so many contacts that the Gmail server times out when I try to open any one of them... oh, and all of the information was imported into the NOTES field, with the exception of the primary email address, on each of these nearly 10,000 contacts I imported. Way to go, Google.
I've read the comments at that Lifehacker post and I've looked at the links readers have provided there. Nothing is clicking for me.
HOW CAN I BE THE ONLY PERSON ON THE PLANET WITH AN ENORMOUS ADDRESS BOOK WHO CANNOT SEEM TO FIND A SIMPLE WAY TO SYNC MY DATA?
I am so pissed off at Palm Desktop for losing its way. It really was the PERFECT solution for me for so so so so long. Damn Handspring corporate buyout and priority shift to "smart phone" BS rather than what I use my Treo to do: ORGANIZE MY LIFE. I DON'T CARE ABOUT RINGTONES!! I DON'T USE IT AS A PHONE!
Ugh.
So, anyway.
One of the major flaws I've found in Entourage, since using it as my primary source