The influence of radio

I was listening to the radio this morning and the DJs (Mark and Brian) had a listener who started talking about doing something nice for someone everyday. She asked them what the last nice thing they did for someone was. It got me thinking about the last nice thing I did for someone. I mean, I can think of some things that I have done for friends and family, but nothing really significant or for anyone I don't know very well.

Therefore, I have decided that I am going to make a significant effort to do at least one nice thing for someone everyday. Whether it be at work, in life in between work and home, or at home, I am going to try and go out of my way for at least one person everyday. Not for the thanks or the karma or to kiss up, but just because I can. Even though I am not loving my job at the moment, I have to admit that my life is not only blessed with amazing people and opportunities, but also so much better than the lives of so many people out there. So, I figure this is the least I can do.

The only reason that I am posting this is to have a record of this idea so I will remember to actually do it and not get so wrapped up in my own life which tends to render me short sighted.

I hope everyone is having a good Monday so far and hopefully everyone will have a good week.

~J

It's my small space, in this crowded place...

So it is official. International Creative Management has bought out my company, BWCS and we are merging with them. So, in only a few weeks, I will no longer be employed by BWCS Agency, but rather ICM, which is one of the largest talent/literary agencies in the entertainment business. Everyone seems pretty excited, and no one here at BWCS is loosing their jobs, but I can't say the same for ICM. Most of their television department was let go last night (via e-mail, the rumor has it. That's the company I want to work for! Fire me through e-mail. Classy.). Our television department, my desk included, will replace theirs pretty much. More details as they come.

Other than that, this week has been pretty boring. Chris is down for the weekend. He came to lunch with me today, which was really nice. A good break in the day. But then my afternoon has DRAGGED on forever. He is currently visiting Nate the (Former) Roommate in Santa Monica. I am going to meet up with them for dinner when I get off work. Which will hopefully be soon. Very soon. Like now. *willing Mark to call in and tell me I can go*

Anyway, someone sent this to me this afternoon. I think it's wonderful. Check it out: My Cubicle. Enjoy!

~J

Elaine!

This past weekend was... well, interesting. Friday night, Natalie had some Scripps thing to go to, so Blake and I went to dinner at a Cuban place by his apartment. It was so fun. Good food, good company, good times. I was exhausted, though, so I went home and went to bed at 10:30 or so. Saturday I cut my hair off. Now, explain this to me: I told the girl exactly what I wanted (my natural color back and about two inches off) and she gives me blonde and about 4 inches off. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but it is not what I asked for. Isn't she supposed to give me what I want? I mean, isn't that what I paid the ridiculous amount of money for? Oh well.

Saturday night, Nat and I had dinner and Blake's house which was ever-so-slightly cooler (oh, we are having a heatwave in case you hadn't noticed) and then went to the movies to escape the heat and see The Devil Wears Prada. I get up to the window to buy my ticket first and the cashier says, "Oh, I should tell you before you buy your ticket that the one theater the is playing The Devil Wears Prada is without air conditioning. It might be fixed soon, but probably not." No thank you. Blah.

Sunday, Barb, my mentor as I have started calling her, took me to a "garden party" in Malibu hosted by some of her clients. The woman hosting was Joan Benedict, Rod Steiger's wife, who happens to be dating Jeremy Slate, a Western star from the days of yore. As you may notice, these people are all about 80 years old. I was the youngest person by at least 15 years. Although, I must say, the highlight of the evening was sitting with Katharine Ross, from The Graduate and Butch Cassidy, and her husband Sam Elliott, from The Big Lebowski and most recently Thank You for Smoking. They have a daughter who is turning 22 and is studying opera, so we chatted about that and my writing for a while. Really nice people. It was so strange and wonderful sitting with an actress who has been in two amazing and prolific films and an actor whose voice and persona is recognizable even to someone like me who is, well, "unfamiliar" with most obscure film stars. All in all, it was a bit of a long afternoon, but very interesting.

Work is going all right. I keep thinking that I am finally getting it and then something really throws me for a loop. I just have to keep plugging along, I guess. I just keeping telling myself: it's only a year, it's only a year, it's only a year. A year seems like a long, long time. I'll tell you one thing, though. It makes me want to write so I can have material to submit and maybe get out of this before a year.

Tomorrow night, Blake's sister Sarah is helping host an event for the American Cancer Society and Nat, Blake and I are going. It should be interesting. At least it will be something to do. Thursday, Chris comes down to visit (yay!) and I just hope it is not as hot as it was last time he came to visit. This heatwave is supposed to let up a little bit by mid-week. We shall see, I suppose.

~J

Happy Hump Day to me!

* An addendum to this post: In the time between typing this out, finding mistakes, editing it, and writing this addendum, my boss has officially made me cry. Those who know me well know this is no easy feat. I rarely, if ever, cry. So, bravo, Mark. I'm over it now and looking back on the experience, I must give the man some slow claps. He worked hard (read: was mean) to make me cry (although, he doesn't know he did it--I hope). I guess this means my grace period with him is up.*

I am having a case of the Mondays, again. Except that it's Wednesday. I have found a pattern: When I have a good night/ weekend, my next day at work sucks. What is with that? Today has been a lot like Monday in that nothing super/duper bad has happened, I have just been on edge all day, like I am waiting for something to happen. Only in the last hour or so have I given myself a break and started feeling better. I don't mean to use this to bitch about my job, but basically all I do is work, so I really have nothing else to talk about (at least nothing that I can talk about in a public forum). I think it will start getting better in the next few weeks. It will just take time. Although, I think I have successfully annoyed the crap out of one of my co-workers. Go me.

Anyway, I do actually have other things on my mind at the moment. First of all, last night was great. It started out with almost plowing into a celebrity, which is always fun. I was going down Melrose on my way home from work and I see all these paparazzi on the street in front of some club or something. Then, I see a valet wave someone across, so I slam on my breaks. Just then, Jack Osbourne crosses the street about 10 ft. ahead of my car. I guess the valet guy waving him across didn't see me. So yeah, that was fun.

When I got home, Natalie had made salmon, garlic spinach, and these awesome mushrooms. It was delicious. We had some (read: a bottle) of wine and just talked for a few hours. It was great to have a girl's night. We both needed it, I think. But it all just made getting up this morning that much more dificult (not the wine, that was okay).

The other thing that has been on my mind and the topic of conversation a lot recently is the alleged Suri Cruise. What's going on there? I mean, there is all this hoopla about the birth and then-- NOTHING. I totally understand not wanting to subject your newborn baby to the media circus that is TomKat (bleh), but it is so inconsistant with Tom Cruise's recent behavior. It seems like no one, the couple's friends, know what is going on. Hmm...interessante. Interessante indeed.

Well, work beckons. Maybe it will make the last two hours or so go by faster. At least, I hope it will. By the way, ten hour days (especially when you don't get a lunch because of some training thing that wasn't helpful at all) suck. A lot. That is all.

~J

I've got a case of the Mondays

Another Monday is upon us. I, for one, am not ready. Well, that is to say, I wasn't ready. It is already 3 PM. It's my first day as Mark's assistant without Bethany (his old assistant) looking over my shoulder. Most people get two weeks of training after being a floater for a few months. I got five days of training of being a floater for three days. So, today has been a bit stressful. Fortunately (or unfortunately), it has been mostly self-induced. I keep getting frusterated with myself for making stupid little mistakes. Grrr. I know that I will get it soon, but for now I am on edge. Luckily, things have slowed down enough for now so I can post. I need a little mental break.

The other thing that has made this particular Monday so unenjoyable is the fact that I had such an amazing weekend. Chris came to visit and we just had a blast. I know he will post more about it and I am not sure how much time I have, so I will only give a quick run down. Thursday, we went to LindyGroove and it was great. I really missed it. Friday night, we went to dinner in Pasadena and ended running into Emily Nicholas (a friend of ours from high school for those who don't know) and she had dinner with us. Saturday, we met my mentor Barb in Claremont for coffee and then went with Nat and Blake to a club called Forty Deuce on Melrose. It was... interesting, to say the least. Actually, I had a lot of fun. The club is really more of a burlesque show (which was fantastic, I might add. Those girls have moves!) than an actual club. Unfortunately for Chris, after the first act he got a bloody nose which caused a bit of a commotion among the hosts of the club. It was fine, but I think we left quite an impression. And, for the record, Chris is fine. Just one of those things, I guess. Sunday, we had a lazy day walking around Colorado and watching movies. It was hard saying good bye.

However, I do have something to look forward to this upcoming weekend. Barb got me an invitation to a party in Malibu where, is it rumored, Brad Pitt might show up. Even if he doesn't, I think it will be a great networking opportunity and all-around interesting experience. I am not quite sure what to expect, but I am kicking myself for not having business cards ready. Boo.

Anyway, back to the grind. Gotta work hard for the money! Hope everyone else is having a good Monday and I will post again when I have the chance/ something interesting to say.

~J

P.S. I just found out that one of the other assistants I have been in contact with all day appeared on the first season of Survivor. I won't reveal who, but she is very nice and perky.

I knew it!

You Are Most Like Miranda!

While you've had your fair share of romance, men don't come first Guys are a distant third to your friends and career. And this independence *is* attractive to some men, in measured doses. Remember that if you imagine the best outcome, it might just happen. Romantic prediction: Someone from your past is waiting to reconnect... But you'll have to think of him differently, if you want things to work.

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You?

I apologize for posting something this lame, but I got the desk at work and have been working between 10 and 12 hours a day all week and am exhausted. So please forgive me. More to come later, promise.

~J

P.S. Sometimes these quiz thingies are so accurate, it really freaks me out. ;)

There's no place like home...

I HAVE INTERNET AND NATALIE IS HOME!!!!! YAY AND WOO HOO!

~J

Three dropped calls and you are fired!

While my last post should have been long enough to satisfy you all for a least a week, I know you are all salivating to hear about my first few days at my new job. The short answer: so far, so good.

The long answer: I think this company is a good place for me to start if I want to be a writer someday. Many contacts, much information, etc. With that said, it has been very overwhelming so far, hence my writing here instead of working on my booking "homework." I thought I was going to be done with homework after college. I was wrong. I figured I deserved a little time to decompress and fiddle around for a bit.

So far, I have not been placed on a desk, so I retain my status as a "floater," which, frankly, reminds me of something that should be residing in a toilet or public pool, but I am in no position to petition for a title change. I interviewed with an agent on my first day, so hopefully I will hear soon if he wants me on his desk. I do think that he would be a pretty perfect agent to assist for in terms of becoming a writer. As far as temperment, he seems a little-- what's the word I'm looking for? Oh that's right-- psychotic. Maybe that's a little harsh. Super intense. I think I could get used to it, though. He reps TV writers, and new ones at that, and he is a new agent, so we would all be starting together, pretty much. It would be a good experience, albeit mildly (read: EXTREMELY) stressful at first. I will update as I know things.

Anyway, I can't wait to get off work because: a) (and most importantly) Natalie is moving in today! I haven't seen her in more than a month (the longest we have gone without seeing each other since we met). Say it with me now: AWWW!!!

And b) I am going home tomorrow and see some familiar faces. I know it has only been a few days since I left beautiful Bakersfield, but I am jonesin' for a place where I don't feel like the new kid at school. I would venture to say that in Bako, not only do I not feel like the new kid at school, I feel like one of the popular kids. :) I don't know what that means...

Okay, perhaps I should get back to work. Maybe earn some of my vast, vast salary. Ha.

~J

P.S. The title of this post refers to the scariest thing I heard today. Please, God, do not let me be put on that agent's desk. That is not an agency standard.

"You have such a fargely neck!"

Th past few days have been a non-stop party, starting Wednesday in Los Angeles and wrapping up tonight. Rachel, Becca, Rob, Chris and I went to the Hotel Cafe on Wednesday night to see Scuyler Fisk. She was awesome as was the act preceding her, Kate and Kacey Coppola. Afterwards, the rest of the folks went home and Rachel and I met Galen in Santa Monica and hung out. A very nice evening. Especially since we saw this cool/extremely creepy guy (girl?) dressed as a bunny. I was also told by a homeless man that I am beautiful and have a very sparkley neck. Oy vey. All in all good times.

Until I realized that I had left my debit card at the Hotel Cafe. The next day, I tried calling but to no avail. Finally, on our way back to Bako, Rachel and I drove over to the Hotel Cafe and banged on the doors trying to get someone to let us in. When no one answered, we went next door to the bar and asked. The man there happened to be the Hotel Cafe owner's brother. He called his brother who drove all the way in to let me in and give my debit card. It was so nice of him.

Thursday night, Blake came into town so Chris, Rachel, and I decided to show him the Bakersfield nightlife. I have updated by picture page, by the way, with pictures from all these different events. We had a great time at Riley's playing pool and dancing the night away at Fishlips. Chris really showed us his bithy side ("Did the guitar player eat the singer?").

Friday was pretty low key. Satuday Chris came down to Pasadena with my family to help me move into my new apartment. I was super worried at first that nothing would fit, but everything went very well. I will take some pictures and update soon. That night we all went to dinner at the Yardhouse and then Chris, Abby, Ashley and I went to see Wordplay. We were sitting in the theater before the film an all of a sudden this guy stands up in front and says, "Hi, I'm Patrick Creadon and I'm the director of this film. I just wanted to thank you all for coming." Then he gave us crossword puzzels and left. It was awesome. The movie was also very awesome. It is my number one favorite movie of the year so far. Chris still claims that Thank You for Smoking is his favorite, but Wordplay comes in a close second. After the movie and dropping Abby and Ashley off at their hotel, Chris and I went to Blake's apartment in Glendale (where we were staying) and watched the British version of The Office. Awesome. Awesome night.

Sunday, Abby, Ashley, Chris and I finished setting up the apartment and then we all drove back to Bako. Sunday night, the Burzlaff boys (Patrick, Chris, and Paul), Patty's friend Brian, Paul's friend Dom and I all went to Rob's for poker night. I earned myself the nickname The Ringer. I did well the first round and went into the championship with the second most number of chips, but then lost it all, coming in fourth for the night. Nevertheless, it was fun. Nordsky/Cheesehead (Brian) took the gold, winning the title of King of the Day for the Third of July party that we were throwing the next day. Another awesome night.

Monday I helped Chris prepare for the festivities of Third of July. Because so many of us have to go to work tomorrow and some of us have to drive down south, we decided to throw the big July 4th party a day early. There will still be a BBQ and fireworks tonight but I am not sure I will get to enjoy it too much.

Anyway, these past few days have been fantastic. A great way to celebrate my last few days in Bako. I will be back very soon, but I will only be visiting, not living. This weekend has reaffirmed just how happy I am with my life and especially my friends. I never would have gotten through this move without Chris and my family. I am also so glad that Galen, Blake, and Rob will be down in LA so I will have good friends close by. Now it is time to move on to the next chapter of my life, frightening and exhilerating. I will keep you updated on the first day of work. Ack! Oh and don't forget to check out all the pictures from this past weekend and some from earlier in the summer. Just click the link to the side titled My Pictures.

~J

Short Post

I am moving to Pasadena tomorrow (well, technically, 6 hours and six minutes from now). That is all for now.

Love, Jessica