when you least expect it

I picked up Dad and Allie at the airport early this morning, and on the way home, we swung by the 101 Coffee Shop for breakfast. Arriving at the same time, but from the opposite direction, was Johnny Knoxville. He dined alone at the counter. He looked totally hot, but we didn't say anything to him.

This is the first celebrity I've seen there, even though it's apparently quite the place to spot 'em.

when your past comes back to haunt you

What happens when your internet boyfriend from the mid-1990s finds you through one of those ridiculous social networking sites? Oh my god, that's an embarrassing past I don't really want to relive.

Things were different then. Who thought to communicate with people near you when you were online back then? So few people I actually knew were.

What's more astonishing is that he would even think to look me up a decade later!

no longer a virgin

Only a few minutes ago, I experienced my first earthquake. I've lived in L.A. two years, and even though there have been little ones in that time, I've never felt them (to my knowledge).

Today, I was sitting at work in Hollywood typing when I felt the whole building slightly jolt. I immediately let out, "What was that?!" After a moment's pause, one of my bosses, in the adjoining room said, "That was an earthquake."

Considering the news of the devestating earthquake yesterday in Peru, my first thought was that it was an earthquake, but it didn't feel like I had been anticipating. I wasn't even fearful of anything and nothing fell. It was just a blip.

rip tony wilson

Last night, Anna told me that Tony Wilson died. I couldn't believe it. Both because he's so young (I didn't know anything was wrong) and also because I hadn't heard about it! Searching for obituaries was also difficult. This morning I decided to look through Manchester newspapers, and I came across this tribute.

I weeped a little as I read it. He was not just a force in music history, but his passion for Manchester, its history, and its grand future (in his head) really gets to my core with my intense interest in cities and those that make them. This comes through in 24 Hour Party People but it is even more poignant to read it from a friend.

just one of those nights

I have so much to blog about, but sometimes you have to let the stockpile sit while the fresh adventures are still, well, fresh.

Tonight is one of those nights where I'm so thrilled to live in L.A.

A couple of weeks ago, on a whim, I took a look at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's schedule and noticed that Paul Rudd and Ana Ortiz were going to appear on August 11's Bro'in Out with Seth Morris. What?! I'm in love with Paul Rudd, and I have been for years. If he wasn't married, I probably would have thrown myself at him. (Okay, probably not, but I just like to say that.) I quickly reserved tickets, and I invited Anna to make sure I didn't try any adulterous moves.

We got there really early to get in line, because I was determined to sit in the front row. We did, which meant a perfect view. I also happened to be sitting directly opposite Mr. Rudd. But fortunately, there were other guests to distract me. To promote The Ten (which I saw earlier in the week, and it's one of those things I've been meaning to blog about...go see the movie--hilarious! I support anything that actually features Winona Ryder post-Saks incident.) Paul Rudd was joined by Ken Marino, David Wain, and Joe Lo Truglio. Ana Ortiz passed out drinks to the guests and let her tiny dog, Fidel, roam around the audience. She got some quality solo time in the beginning, which was nice.

There was some other stuff like some crazy Frank Oz impersonator and a band (The Happy Hollows). The format was like a talk show, if that helps explain all this zaininess at a comedy club. And Anna's heart stopped when she noticed John Krasinski join the audience. Apparently some other guy from The Office was there, but since I don't watch the show I'm not really savvy to who he is. (Unfortunately, I saw the trailer for License to Wed too many times watching crap cable back east in June so I've got Krasinski's face memorized.)

Grand sum of this all: a very good time! I laughed, and I wish I could write this more wittily, but realize I've been up since about 6 a.m. You're lucky this makes sense.

P.S. Seth Morris looks like a younger, taller, smaller-nosed, and non-curly-haired version of my dad. Seriously, I was looking at him thinking he looked familiar. Then it hit me he looked just like my dad--gap in his front teeth and all.

two days isn't enough

I recently got back from a screening of 2 Days in Paris followed by a Q&A with Julie Delpy and a reception at Hollywood Social (or is it Social Hollywood?). Adam Goldberg was scheduled to participate in the Q&A, but he sent his regrets. My guess is that he caught wind of my seductive intentions and couldn't handle it. Such a shame. He delivered an excellent performance, while being as hot as ever. There's just something about a not-too-hairy Jew covered in random tattoos...

Anyway, the film was excellent. It was everything I had hoped it'd be. I don't think I've laughed so much and so hard in a movie in a really long time. It's very clever, full of quick dialog and neurotic humor--just the way I like it. I'm definitely going to run out and buy the DVD as soon as I can.

Now, you need to run to a theater and see it. Maybe I'll even see it again soon...

But, please, someone--anyone--whisk me away to Paris already! I can't take it anymore.

maybe i'm the only one who appreciates the humor here

So I'm looking at Plenty of Fish, which I think is a pretty crappy dating site. The information it asks you to fill out is too general and it doesn't give you any sense of where someone lives in relation to you, which I think is crucial (at least as an initial filtering mechanism).

Anyway, so a profile I click on actually gives very detailed stat information because he copied and pasted it from some other kind of dating site that asks very specific questions. Under "Way of Life," there's a category titled "Political." This is how his answer reads: "Political: Capitalist (date a socialist? no)"

I guess I can stop reading, but for some reason I thought that was hilarious. While I do think whether or not you lean toward capitalism or socialism is a political issue, it's not quite like saying what party you're affiliated with (though try and find a Republican socialist).

if holly would...

Because a serious post can't go unfollowed by a bit of goofy irony.

regrets of a misspent youth

Today I attended the first of a two-day conference at the Huntington Library called "Rocket Science and Region," which is about the history of the aerospace industry in Southern California. This is something I know nothing about, and I'm always excited to learn new things.

But sitting there all day made me yearn for a path not chosen. Growing up I was equally as good in math/science as I was in English/social studies. I even remember when I was a kid wanting to be a chemist. I loved doing proofs in geometry! I did computer programming all throughout high school, but I realized that while I excelled in the classes I didn't have the innate drive and creativity that all the guys around me who were barely passing (because they were designing anything but class assignments) had. In college I quickly took the humanities path and intended to prep for law school.

Now I wonder how things would be different. I can see that the adult me, had I continued in the appropriate content courses to keep up those math--not just logic--skills, would be well suited to science. My intense interest in learning, research, and sharing my results along with big-picture thinking completely anchored by the sharpest eye for detail just made for observation is what a scientist really needs. I'd also probably have my pick of any job I wanted considering the shortage of women in all sciences.

And just think! It'd be so much easier to meet men, especially the scientifically inclined (remember, it's a bit of a fetish of mine).