Looking Back and Moving Forward

What 2009 brought me... in no particular order...

• This blog! My major goal was/is to inspire a glamorous/pampering/adventurous/slightly eccentric/creative life without it being about money or status. And share the occasional star-sighting... AND to share my genius wit and artistic prowess... ;) Merci to all you wonderful readers and bloggers who inspire me in return!
• The Sounds of Silence, a UC Northridge film in which I had a fun role written for me by the director(after I auditioned for another role!), and the friendships made on the set.
• A first edition/hardcover of Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume, one of my favorite books by my favorite author, won on Ebay for $3!
• Four marvelous meals (3 this summer, 1 on 12/21) at Ludobites... my faves were the chorizo/cantaloupe/cornichorn ice soup (had every time this summer), lobster medallions (omg that gelee), the tomato salad with feta mousse and both versions of fried chicken, though the version on 12/21 with the cantal polenta and mole took me to a transcendent place. If Maestro Ludo (or anyone who knows him) sees this, please consider a Ludo Comforts U truck, selling your soups and fried chicken with polenta to a happy happy public!!!
• Crossroads Trader treasures (all under $50!)... most notably, a navy Gucci dress that fits me like a glove, black Donald Pliner cork wedges, Chip and Pepper wide-leg jeans (softest denim omg), Sonia Rykiel gold platform sandals, some pretty Marc Jacobs tops and a super-soft turquoise cashmere sweater.
• I perfected my pig candy recipe and recently made candied bacon balls that were rich/sweet porcine heaven.
• Butterflies and gemstones at the Natural History Museum this summer.

• My first film camera, a plastic Diana F+ Nightcap, and expired film now give me another outlet for my storytelling.
• My two groovy Goodwill.com finds... the champagne mink jacket of my dreams (seen in pic above, as I was leaving Ludobites on 12/21) and a heavy gold Egyptian necklace that reminded me of one of my favorite bloggers, The Glamourai.
• Umami Burger's SoCal Burger
• The Golden State Cafe - the friendly neighborhood cafe I wish there were more of. It's so nice to walk into a place and be recognized and talked to. Merci Jason!
• Animal Restaurant - great inventive food and no attitude
• My new favorite go-to restaurant - The Veggie Grill on Sunset at Crescent Heights. Vegan fast-ish food that will satisfy non-vegans... healthy, delicious and good for the environment. My fave is the chicken ceasar salad and I sub fried chicken for the blackened. Best faux-chicken I've had. They have a burger I will try sometime soon, but I keep ordering that salad!
• O-burger in Weho... organic, grass-fed burgers
• Kogi Kogi Kogi!!!
• My favorite Mexican peasant top ($5!) from Out of the Closet.
• Lulu Organics hair powder - for that perfect messy bedhead and not having to wet-wash my hair too often.
• Exchanged the office with the bedroom and now get to wake up to trees and a few crazy squirrels.

• Finished the re-write of my pilot script, The Day Shift. All I need now is a producer with vision!!!
• Gold this, gold that and the gold other thing...
• My first foray into backyard gardening that led to my foot meets pottery shard adventure. Without any doctors. stiches or drugs, I prevented infection and promoted healing with lavender oil, apple cider vinegar, tumeric, manuka honey and hand-made bandages (and boosted my immune system internally). Five months later and no regrets, the area is still tender, and I figure it will be a full year before it's 100%. Natural healing isn't speedy, but I prefer to work with my body, not against it. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
• I checked a life goal off the list in November by learning how to properly handle and shoot a handgun. As an actress, I want to look like I know what I'm doing (cause I want to be cast as a badass, of course!) and it's another skill that's worth learning well. Merci to friend Richard, who's an expert in this field (felt like I was watching the Terminator when he was shooting), for being patient with me and for loading the clips when my fingers started to hurt (yeah I'm such a girl sometimes).

• Fantastic and inexpensive reflexology massages at JB Natural Foot Massage on Robertson. I'm going again next week with friend Julia!
• My energy-healer Maggie who has made me healthier, both mentally and physically. I met her as a result of my foot injury (indirectly), so you never know what positive will emerge from a perceived negative event. I try to be grateful for everything, because life can be crazy wonderful...

Adieu 2009!!!

Bienvenue 2010!!!

May the adventures begin...

Miss Absinthe

Hot Toes in the City

After years of azure being my summer toe color, a violet phase begins.

Not much happening these days... summers have that effect on me. Brain just... what's the word? My point exactly.

Too hot/bright for photo wandering (or any wandering), as I literally gave myself a hot ass last week when I sat down (on Formosa again) to take a pic of a dead bumblebee (yep I brought it home) on the sidewalk. Hopefully I'll get the 12-shot roll finished off by the end of this week.

Been removing more dirt from the backyard in the early evenings, that I'll replace with good soil, then plant sunflower seeds. I can't wait for the garden grotto to bloom, as it will also provide some privacy from the ugly condo next door.

There's a pair of birds, swallows I think, that are protecting a nest in the trees behind the apt. from anything that gets remotely close, namely Mr. Squirrel, with whom they have numerous and LOUD skirmishes that the birds always win. Who needs tv?

No acting work in the immediate future... so if Mr. De Mille is out there... I'm still ready for my close-up!

Had lovely air-conditioned lunch with friend Julia at Le Pain Quotidien last Saturday, followed by heavenly $25 hour-long reflexology foot massages at my latest pampering discovery, JB Natural Foot Massage on Robertson, just north of Olympic. The $25 is a special rate that lasts until August 10th, though I suspect the price won't jump too high after that, since they're surrounded by very inexpensive nail places that do massages for cheap. Though the focus of the massage is the feet, it starts (as feet are soaking in hot water tub) with temples/head/arms, then feet (and really not sure of details cause I was THAT relaxed), then you turn over as the chair converts into a massage bed (this was way cool) for neck/upper back. Yes, I call this a deal.

• They take walk-ins, though there seems to be only 8 massage chairs, so you may want to call ahead.
• They take credit cards, though they didn't include a place for tip, and I had no cash, so I felt like a heel (can't help a good pun), but I will find a way to make up for the karma and bring cash next time for tip.
• They give you a punch value card, after 10 massages, you get 2 free!

Sweetie-pie wants to go with me next time, this weekend perhaps?

Stay cool until next time... Miss Absinthe

JB Natural Foot Massage

329 S. Robertson Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

310-657-3888

The Gatekeeper on Alden

This windowed door is just around the corner from Robertson and this mesmerizing beagle caught my eye, sitting there, looking right through me. He/she just sat there, giving me the time to take the shot... then another dog walked by and the beagle had more important barking to do.

Good dog.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Marriage of Convenience

Another alleyway pic...

Latex gloves, a battery, cigarette butts and a tampon warning pamphlet in the alley behind Kitson on Robertson. Must of been some party!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Left Foot and Chanel - Color Redux

Voila Cheris! Here's the color version of my alleyway Chanel amongst the flowers. Have to say I'm very pleased since the bright fuschia of the foliage is what caught my eye in the first place. And I'm only using expired film, adding another layer of delicious chaos to my artistic baklava...

Went to the Getty today with darling friend Julia (another birthday adventure!) and between freezing my derriere, a yummy lunch and taking in the Jo Ann Callis and Peter Outerbridge photography exhibits, I shot a roll during the few moments the sun graced us... and put my feet in the fountain!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Left Foot and Chanel in the Alley

Saw this discarded in the alley behind the Chanel store on Robertson, so I sat down and took this pic. Originally shot with expired color film, then converted to b&w due to severe overexposure. I'm having the lab develop the color version, and keeping my fingers crossed, because those are pink flowers the bag is sitting in and covered with.

Oh and if you ever see a girly-girl sitting in an alley or stooping in the gutter with a camera... oui, c'est moi!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Gas Station Roses

Must resist temptation to stop and photograph every flower I come across...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Pretty Maids All In A Row...

Storefront of Les Habitudes, on Robertson Blvd. at night. Their fashions are so ethereal and it's the only store in my neighborhood that I always stop at and contemplate a more decadent life. Funny how my favorite places in the 'hood have a decidedly French (but not snooty) feel...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe