Friday Night Rattle.

Well, I've only been out here in LA for a little over 6 months and I've already experienced another earthquake. This one considerably larger then the first. Perhaps not by the Richter scale, it was rated at 3.4, but screw that, I know what I felt. This quake was bigger and scarier then the the other one by my standards. Until you've actually felt the earth tremble under your feet, or watch strong, sturdy buildings turn into Jell-o and shake, or more importantly, the way your body and emotions react to such an unnatural feeling, it's hard to understand the power the earth holds. It was Friday night at 7:42pm and I was working my Starbucks gig. Next thing you know, customers were fleeing for the doors and my co-worker was hitting the floor and I, in a small state of shock, just stood their, observing ever thing that was happening around me. It lasted only seconds, and it wasn't till a few minutes later that I panicked. I blame this mostly on my Father, for earlier that day he started talking to me about the second coming of Christ. Naturally, I couldn't help but think, this is it. It's all come down to this. And forgive me roommates, for I know you can take care of yourselves, but the first thing that crossed my mind was, "GRACIE!" At which point I went into panic mode calling my roommate, Joe, to make sure all the dogs were okay. Oddly enough, he was on the promenade, where I work, and when I asked him, "did you feel the earthquake?" His response was, "Is that what that was." For Joe, it was just a loud noise, something he compared to a garbage truck picking up trash. And for Eric, who was working at Apple, also on the promenade, he said it sounded like somebody dropped something in their attic. He said he also just stood there as shoppers ran to get out of the store. It wasn't until right afterwords that he was also struck with a sense of fear. I find it interesting how the three of us were all in the same place, yet we had three different experiences. Scary, scary stuff. All I know for sure is that I certainly don't want to be around for the next "big one" that scientist are predicting to hit LA, sometime soon.

The Envelope

The Los Angeles Times holds an Envelope Screening Series right before award season hits here in LA. I was fortunate enough to score tickets to a few select movies. The great thing about this is not only seeing the movie before its release date, but the Q & A afterwords with the actors and actresses. Not only is it exciting to meet in person such talented actors, but it's interesting and entertaining to hear their thoughts and views on the film and hear how they prepared and went about filming. Plus, I was only three rows back from the screen. And although this might be seen as a downfall during the movie, I was in a prime seat for the after-show!! (***my pictures are lousy because I was trying to be inconspicuous!)

The first of the movies I saw was "Doubt." Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. This movie, originally written as a play, is a film about suspicion, judgement and moral certitude (not my words). It was enjoyable and certainly got me asking questions. In the Q & A afterwards we were honored to have the writer/director John Patrick Shanley in our presence. To hear his ideas and his goals and his desires for the film were outstanding. And he came across as such a cool guy. It was an amazing evening, to say the least.

The next film I saw was "Last Chance Harvey," starring Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. And let me cut to the chase, Dustin Hoffman graced our presence with the Q & A and I couldn't have been happier. I'm mean really, Dustin Hoffman. What a brilliant man!! What movie of his can you actually say you don't like?? None. None what-so-ever. And to top it off, we were served champagne! Ha ha ha. I'm such a fortunate little girl!! So Dustin talked about how he got into the acting business. Said he never wanted to be an actor, never wanted to be famous. He was doing the typical waiting tables thing and next thing he knew he was playing in a role, more like "the role," that would launch his career into stardom. That obviously being "The Graduate." He talked about "The Graduate", he talked about what films he was asked to do that he turned down, he talked about his regrets, he talked about choosing roles. The audience was in agreeance

that a memoir was a must. I was mesmerized. A funny side note: When Dustin Hoffman walked into the theater, the smell of pot became present. I turned, with a confused/shocked look on my face, to the lady next to me. She smelt it also, and quietly, yet accusingly, pointed to Dustin Hoffman. I mouthed to her "really??." She mouthed back, "It's gotta be." I mouthed back, "No!?!?" We shrugged our shoulders and turned back to hear what he had to say. A moment later, my friend Peter, grabbed into his bag to pull out his camera, and the smell of pot again became quite apparent. I looked at my friend Peter with wide eyes and asked, "do you smell that? It smells like pot." Immediately Peter's eyes got wide and he realized that he had lent his bag to our pot-head co-worker. I debated whether or not to tell the lady next to me that, "no, Dustin Hoffman didn't get high in the bathroom before his Q & A. It's just my friend." In the end, I didn't. I didn't want to be associated with the reason why the theater reeked of pot. I hope she doesn't think any less of Dustin Hoffman now.

The last movie I was able to see was "The Wrestler." I barely made it to this movie. If it weren't for the fact I knew there would be free popcorn, I probably would have stayed home. I mean, a movie about wrestling, no thanks. Ugh. It ends up, this could very easily be my favorite movie of the year. It just goes to show, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. All of whom showed up to answer questions, along with the Director Darren Aronofsky. Amazing crew. Amazing to hear Mickey Rourke talk. To see his humorous personality come out. To hear about his personal struggles, not just the ones he portrays in the film. It was neat to learn that Darren had no budget for this movie, yet his dream to complete it, keep it alive. I learned that Mickey did all his own stunts, which after previewing the movie, you'll have great respect for that.

I was certainly sad to have this screening series over. It was such a great way to spend my evenings. I'm sure I'll find something else to do soon. I'm pretty much notoriously known for having the inside scoop on whats happening around town. And it's true. I'm always getting free tickets to this or that. It's great!! It's all in who you know, or more importantly, who knows you! Wink Wink.

Peace and Love in the New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas to you!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed a peaceful day with friends and family.

Originally, I was to spend Christmas in LA working. However, I was only scheduled 19 hours at Starbucks and decided that wasn't worth sticking around LA for. So at the last minute, I hopped in the car with Gracie, for a 15 hour drive, and headed up to Pocatello, Idaho to spend Christmas with Mom and Ron.

I arrived on Tuesday to at least 9 inches of snow and it hadn't stopped coming down since. I think at one point there was at least a foot of snow, with more expected to come. It's was great! It really was. It is a nice change from the never changing LA weather. It felt so much more like the Christmas holiday then LA. Plus, it's great to be with family.

We took the dogs for a nice Christmas Day walk on the country club behind the house, and with the snow so deep, Mom and I wore snow shoes out. The following video is for your enjoyment:

It was sad to have to head back to LA. Pocatello has a way of sucking me into the small town life. It's peaceful and relaxing. If I didn't have the drive to be a successful, hot-shot, powerhouse, then I'd probably move to Pocatello. However, I do have that drive, even if it's not entirely apparent at the moment, and I just don't feel Pocatello has room for a girl like me.

Anyways, I drove straight through and got back home around 2 am Tuesday morning. I woke up to a clear, sunny sky and 70 degree weather. Ahhh, I do love the weather here. I can't wait to head to work tomorrow and see the ocean again, get back in the grove of things. Only one more day of 2008. Haven't had any great accomplishments worth mentioning. Sad, yes. But that's okay. 2009 is going to be my year. I've got a lot of great things planned and goals to accomplish. This is the year Kara makes a name for herself here in La La Land. Goal #1: Getting up when my alarm goes off. (It's been quite a problem lately). Hold on, because the ride is just beginning!!

February 1, 2009

I've done it now. I finally signed up to run in my first ever 1/2 marathon. Working myself up to a full marathon, hopefully summer/fall 2009. So Super Bowl Sunday 2009, Hunting Beach, California, I will be running in the Surf City USA Half Marathon!! Bright and early at 7:45am. I'd love to have my friends and family here for the support, but I realize it's a long way to come for everyone. So encouragement from now till then would be awesome. I've been training, sort-of, I've really got to start training harder. It's a 1 month away! Aha!!! I'm excited though, I can't wait!! If you care to check out the website, go to: http://www.runsurfcity.com/.

If all goes well, this will be the catalyst for the full marathon I'd like to run this summer. Then eventually a triathlon!! GO ME!!

Why You Should Get to Know Me

" I frequently get referred to as 'amazing!' I think I need someone to substantiate that claim."

Thanksgiving.

It's been awhile since I last wrote and I've been a busy girl. Let's go back to Thanksgiving. My roommate, Eric, had his parents visit. It was an incredibly enjoyable time having family around. While they were here I had the opportunity to get out and enjoy parts of LA that I have yet to venture to on my own. It started with a tour of the Sony Studio. Unfortunately, pass the front gates, pictures weren't allowed. But I can say it was an amazing tour.

You'll have to take my word for it on what we saw. We were shown the Jeopardy studio, the Wheel of Fortune Studio, the original studio where Judy Garland filmed The Wizard of Oz and the drop floor where the Wicked Witch melted into it. So neat. The same studio was actually used for the filming of Cast Away. Who knew that a 3 hour beach scene was actually taped all indoors!?!? We got to walk through a set built like an old hotel where they had recently taped a shoot out. The walls were destroyed with bullet holes. We were shown into a building where the Studio's Academy Awards were showcased. Also very neat. It was in that building where we got a quick glimpse of Ron Howard!! Sunday, Monday Happy Day! Tuesday, Wednesday Happy Day! Thursday, Friday Happy Day! Saturday! What a Day! Spending all day with you! I loved Happy Days!! Our tour guide, who is an aspiring writer, said it was a slow day on the lot. A couple of movies had recently finished filming and the studio lot was pretty slow. Obviously, I would have loved to have seen more action. But the tour was really informative and a load of fun!!

I had to twist Eric's arm to take this photo with me!

Me giving Bernie Mac a kiss.

After the Sony Studio Tour we went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the LACMA. I was really excited about this because they are currently exhibiting the Vanity Fair Portraits. An exhibit I was dying to see! There were so many amazing photos from the covers of Vanity Fair from when the magazine was first being published to the the present. It was interesting to see the changes from year to year. Many of the photos were done by the very well known Anne Lebowitz, a fashion photographer whom I admire immensely.

The Steps leading up to the Museum.

Right next door to the museum is the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. It's one of the world’s most famous fossil localities, recognized for having the largest and most diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. It's interesting to see because it's so out of place in this city. And no, these aren't real mammoths. Just replicas.

This photo I took is actually a reflection in the tar-y murk. I personally think it's quite cool looking.

On Thanksgiving day, I had to work at Starbucks. We were surprisingly very busy. Sadly, many stores in the shopping area where I worked, were open and people were out shopping. The holidays always get me missing my family and wishing I were with them. Like I mentioned, it was great to have Eric's parents here. It helped to ease the homesickness a bit. Eric's parents also cooked us quite a feast. We had fresh crab legs, shrimp, lots of wine and all the delicious sides to go with them. Yummy!

Mrs. Ries, Eric, Mr. Ries and Joe

Little Red String on Your Finger

"Every day is a gift - even if it sucks."