David & Hyun Ju flew back from Vegas tonight and we went to Hollywood & Highland for dinner and then to Universal Studios to finally see Gran Torino. It’s described as a humorous, touching and intriguing old school parable and I loved it. I’m curious to know what my readers thought though (especially my Asian readers)? Were its portrayals of the Asian community (specifically the Hmong) fair? Volumes have already been written about this, and I need not rehash them here. If you’ve seen the movie, I’d be curious to know what you think. Though over acted at times by the principles, I felt it touched brilliantly on themes of racism and stereotypes; unlike any movie in recent memory (certainly not any Hollywood fare). The theater we were in was filled with many different races and people were laughing at some of the more overt jokes and crying during the sad parts (myself included). Without giving anything away, the payoff for me came at the end, with one of the characters driving the Gran Torino (and everything it symbolizes), down a Midwest highway. There’s hope in this movie. Just like in Slumdog Millionaire and just like in the inauguration of our new president. And with the way things have been going lately, I’m all for anything that gives us a little hope! Here are some photos from tonight:
The Kodak Theater (Home of the Oscars) (L) & Universal Studios (R)
911 Dispatcher: 911 What is your emergency? Me: Yes, I’m at the corner of Fountain & Olive in West Hollywood and a woman crashed her car into my front yard.
911 Dispatcher: Is anyone hurt? Me: I’m not sure. I think she’s OK, but she doesn’t speak English and she’s very upset. A West Hollywood Parking Attendant called you 15 minutes ago to report the accident and there’s still no one here. The woman is crying and we don’t know what she’s saying. Can you please send an officer who speaks Bulgarian or Russian? 911 Dispatcher: We have no report of an accident at that address. Me: Well you do now. Can you send someone? She’s very upset. 911 Dispatcher: Is the other driver there? Me: There was no other driver. As far as I can tell she was pulling out of a parking spot and didn’t realize her car was in reverse. She floored it to go up the hill, but went backwards and knocked down a metal sign pole and ended up in my front yard. 911 Dispatcher: What kind of car is she driving? Me: A burgundy Mitsubishi and the other car is an Escalade. 911 Dispatcher: What other car? Me: Oh, she did some damage to as Escalade as she was backing up. 911 Dispatcher: Is that driver there? Me: No, the Escalade was parked. I don’t know who owns it. Can you please send someone quickly. This woman is very upset. Her hands are shaking so bad, she couldn’t even dial 911. I finally helped her call her husband. He’s on his way. We’ve been waiting about 20 minutes now. 911 Dispatcher: We have units on the way. Will you stay with her? Me: Yes 911 Dispatcher: OK, they will be there soon.
The West Hollywood parking attendant calling 911 the first time
In the meantime I went to a Russian couple’s house in the neighborhood to see if they could help. I figured since Russian and Bulgarian are both Slavic languages, maybe my neighbor could help calm the woman’s nerves (plus the woman did communicate that she spoke some Russian). Unfortunately, of my two neighbors only the wife speaks English. Her husband didn’t understand what I was saying and I gathered that his wife wasn’t home. When I went back outside the police still weren’t there!
This sign she ran over is what kept her from crashing in to my living room!
8 minutes later…28 minutes after the crash
911 Dispatcher: 911 what is your emergency? Me: Yeah, I called 8 minutes ago about an accident that happened a half an hour ago and the police still aren’t here. 911 Dispatcher: Yes, I just talked to you 5 minutes ago, they are on there way. Me: It was 8 minutes ago, and they’re not here. This is ridiculous. 911 Dispatcher: Sir don’t argue with me. Me: I’m not arguing with you. I’m stating facts. 911 Dispatcher: You know this call is being recorded? Me: I don’t care if it’s being recorded. I’m a taxpayer who’s just trying to be a good Samaritan. This woman doesn’t speak English. I have no idea if she’s hurt or not. We’ve been standing out here for 1/2 an hour…. 911 Dispatcher: Sir….(She speaks over me and I have no idea what she’s saying.) Me: Don’t interrupt me, I’m speaking. 911 Dispatcher: / Sure we have other emergencies…CLICK
The phone goes dead. 911 hung up on me!!!
Just then the woman’s husband drives up. He gets out of his car and speaks to her in Bulgarian. He seemed upset with her, so I started taking some video with my camera. Sorry about the quality, I was trying to be discreet. Does anyone understand Bulgarian? It seems he’s being pretty hard on her, but I don’t know what he’s saying:
Finally the police showed up. I let the woman’s husband explain what happened, even though he wasn’t there. Then I told them what I knew: I was sitting at my desk working and I heard a loud crash. At first I thought it was an earthquake, and when I saw what had happened I ran outside to see if I could help. I told them about the 911 calls and that I was upset that the 911 operator hung up on me. They said I shouldn’t have called from my cell phone because they don’t automatically know where I am. (They don’t???) Whatever. So much for trying to help. I went inside and made dinner. Since my patio doors were open, I heard everything that happened after I went inside. Apparently the Bulgarian woman is a nanny for a girl who lives across the street from me and she was leaving work when she crashed her car. Then the woman who owned the Escalade came out. She was remarkably nice about the whole thing and tried to comfort the Bulgarian woman. I’m not sure I would have been so forgiving had it been my car she hit. I guess that’s a lesson in compassion for me. Actually there was remarkably little damage to the Escalade:
The whole situation really pissed me off. I live in a supposedly affluent city with top rate police and fire protection. I would like to think that had the woman been injured they would have been there immediately, but have you ever heard of a 911 operator hanging up on someone? Crazy. I felt bad for the driver. She was so confused. It kind of reminded me of another woman driver I blogged about on July 1st, 2007. This one however, I had NO sympathy for:
This morning I’m having breakfast on my patio and I hear this loud horrible boom. I look across the street and this is what I saw. I ran and got my camera and shot this video. I wish I’d gotten the video of this dumb broad getting out of her car and looking up at the garage wondering what happened. It was if she had no concept of what she’d just done. She was tilting her head, like a dog tilts his head when you ask if he wants to go for a walk. LOL. After getting unstuck, she drove away…but I had my camera set on high resolution, so I have her license plate clear as day. Damn women drivers!!
The building is FUGLY anyway. Maybe they’ll repaint it. It’s filled with vapid commercial actresses who are always letting their dogs shit in my yard and not picking it up. I wish she have done more structural damage!
So…never a dull moment around here! My bad mood eased a little however, when I came in and saw this on the news:
From the mouths of babes! These kids are so adorable. This really made me smile and suddenly forget about Bulgarian women drivers who almost crashed in to my living room!
So, as long as the Bulgarian mafia doesn’t try to kill me for taking that video, I’m going to bask in my Obama glow. It’s a new day!
The forty-fourth presidential inauguration will herald a new era for intellect in the United States. No longer will conjecture and gut instincts substitute for empiricism and analysis. In front of millions around the world, science will be given new breadth, non-believers will be put on equal footing with the faithful and education will be promised true reform. Sean McManus Executive Editor, Bigthink.com
We started celebrating last Thursday when my mostly Republican family was nice enough to indulge me with a “George Bush is Outta Here” party. We had hats, plates, cups, a tablecloth and a “To Do” list for our ex Asshole in Chief that included completed items like:
Squander the goodwill, love and sympathy of the world by utilizing a misguided, arrogant foreign policy to ensure that the U.S. goes from being one of the most beloved countries in the world, to the most despised country in the world all by the time September 11, 2002 rolled around.
Thank God for the 22nd Amendment!
We even played “Pin the Tail on the Ass’s Ass” with a “Mission Accomplished” tail on Dick Cheney protruding from W’s ignorant ass! Luckily the kids didn’t read the poster!
President Bush and his friends celebrated the end of his term with a party of their own at Glen Echo Park. Slate went, for some reason, and their account makes the whole thing sound like the most depressing event in the world. The party, dubbed “Crossing the Finish Line” and held in the park’s giant Spanish Ballroom, was organized by outgoing White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and his predecessor, Andy Card.
The venue had been somewhat controversial, according to attendees. There was no heating, so a lot of bodies were needed. “Due to the historic nature of the venue, there are limitations on what can be done in terms of climate control,” the hosts warned in an email. “DO: Wear layers and coats. DON’T: Dress like you’re going to Gold Cup or Smith Point.”
Apparently some of the more climate-controlled venues had been taken. “There weren’t a lot [of places] available,” said Card. “There weren’t a lot of bands available, either.”
So, basically, everyone was rubbing against each other for warmth and totally unemployed. Just contemplate the multitudes that are contained in this single depressing sentence: “One outgoing Treasury employee had already landed a job as a manager at Abercrombie & Fitch.” The Great Gatsby could have ended with that line.
Anyway, there they all mingled, freezing their asses off, as Karl Rove talked about Twitter, Alberto Gonzalez walked around with a bloodshot eye, and the president mangled some more grammar.
Look, people, if you are out the next two days, and you see these mopes walking all despondent down the street, for God’s sake, take them out a plate of canapes or something and call it national service. Then wish them luck at their new jobs, folding on, sweaters against the sale rack, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Friday night after work I flew from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. While I was waiting to go through security at LAX, Slash from Guns N Roses cut in line in front of me (he had an airport escort) and they opened a new lane for him and his family. He was traveling with his wife and two kids (really cute kids…one was named London), and two nannies. He ended up being on my flight, and amazingly, he flew coach. (I guess the last album didn’t do that well!) When I got to Salt Lake, Drew & Christine and their new baby Lance picked me up. We went to their house and I played with their Great Dane, Betsy and we had a nice dinner. Today we drove over to Park City for the Sundance Film Festival, where we hob knobbed with Paris Hilton, Kevin Bacon, Nick Cannon (Mr. Mariah Carey), Linda Hogan and more. It was a cold, clear, beautiful day!
When Paris arrived, the paparazzi literally almost trampled us!
David & Hyun Ju arrived at the Hotel Careyfornia on Tuesday by way of Germany. Hyun Ju had actually flown from Korea to Germany and then they flew to Los Angeles together from Hamburg. When they arrived, they were hungry so we decided to walk down the street to the local sushi bar on the corner. I had taken Chazz to the dog park for about 2 hours to make sure he was tired and that he would just sleep while we were gone for an hour. Unfortunately though, before David & Hyun Ju arrived, I had picked up all of Chazz’s toys and put them in his little toy box. I don’t know if he just forgot where his toybox was, or if he was just pissed that two new people came to the house and I left with them…but this was the scene I returned to:
In one hour managed to eat 3 books, my new slippers, a pair of tennis shoes and he grabbed a can of air freshener from the bathroom.
But here’s the unbelievable part. These are two of the books he grabbed from the bottom of the bookshelf:
I couldn’t make this up if I tried….I have two witnesses!
He definitely knew he had done something wrong:
Guilty!
Upon further examination, we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw some of the pages that he had torn out:
He seemed to focus on the chapter on “Animal Feelings”
Talk about puppy dog eyes!
Admittedly I staged this photo, but he really tore out the page on Animal Aggression!
So the dog has to be a genius right? I mean, how could I be mad at him?? Claudio and Ryan came back last night and took him back to Oxnard, and I already miss the little shit. Puppies are amazing for your social life. I’ve met more people in my neighborhood at the dog park in the past week, than I have the prior six years of living here! I dog sit all the time, for Garbo, Ruby, Buster, Roxy, Roscoe, etc…but there’s something about a puppy. And after what Chazz just did, he’s definitely all puppy!
Last night we had dinner on Sunset and took Chazz with us. I guess he got what he wanted. He even got a trip to Pinkberry afterwards where I practiced keeping him off leash while we were inside. He did so well, though he did manage to slip into Pinkberry a few times!
OK fine, point taken! I guess he’s right…guilty as charged. I’m the kiddy, puppy, sunny anti Palin blogger. The pictures I took Sunday and Monday are of a kid (Hannah), dogs (Garbo, Ruby & Chazz) and a sunset. LOL. I guess I should be amazed that anyone still reads this blog (besides mothers and pet owners of the aforementioned, vampires and Levi Johnston (Sarah Palin’s future son-in-law.)).
To speak with anyone who’s ever been in close proximity of Sarah Palin for any length of time, there is a constant thread in their commentary: she will say anything, lie about anything, if it is to her own benefit to do so. Much has been said or written about this during the campaign, particularly by The Atlantic’sAndrew Sullivan, so there’s no sense in going over any of this sordid record here.
But just when you think that Palin can’t top herself–I mean the execution of a turkey in Wasilla is a pretty tough act to follow–here she comes again, seated down with a right-wing, self-promoting “filmmaker,” John Ziegler, taking cheap-shots at the likes of Caroline Kennedy and Katie Couric. The bitterness and envy and mean-spiritedness just ooze from her pores throughout the interview. Read more…
But lest you think I’m a 4 trick pony, don’t forget that from January to May you probably have to add one more moniker to my blog…American Idol. LOL.
Each year I think it might be the end of the show’s popularity, and each year brings a new Sanjaya, Danny Noriega or Jason Castro. (Actually, this year, it’s Jason Castro’s brother and Adam Lambert.) Anyway, I’m sure I’ll be attending a show or two this year, and will run in to these wannabe celebrities all over town. So stay tuned if you’re so inclined.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE “Three days before his inauguration, Barack Obama is going to retrace Abraham Lincoln’s route by taking an Amtrak train from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. Obama’s making the trip three days early because it’s Amtrak and even he only has so much hope.” — Conan O’Brien
Tonight we’re heading to Seth & Jessica’s to watch the awards. Most of the parties are at the Beverly Hilton and it’s hard to get to, so I doubt I’ll get any pictures tonight after the ceremony. Here are my predictions:
UPDATE: I got 17 out of 21 predictions right!
Not Shown: Best Supporting Actor/Actress: Heath Ledger & Kate Winslet
What’s your secret to looking so young at 40 Lorenzo?? Oh wait, I remember:
It takes a village
I’m sure the butt massages help keep things firm too:
Or do they??
Before Claudio & Ryan jet off to DC to celebrate with you (while I’m stuck here babysitting!), we thought we’d have a little celebration here in L.A. in your honor tonight. When Claudio & Chazz found out how old you were, they were shocked!
“40?? That’s not what Facebook says? Wait, what’s Facebook?”
We all had a nice birthday dinner though, in your honor:
Happy birthday from Alex, Dan, Ryan, Carey, Chazz & Claudio
Chazz was in full celebration mode, and by the end of the evening, he could’t walk a straight line:
And soon Ryan followed suit:
Here’s hoping your 32nd is as memorable as you are! GLY! xoxo
I want to thank Tom & Cathy for a most spectacular gift they gave me that I alluded to last week. It’s an Eye-Fi wireless SD card. It saved me so much time last week in San Francisco because the pictures I took automatically went to my Xanga wirelessly (through Picasa which I had synced to a web album) without even having to download from the card! What a time-saver. All I needed to be was at least 30 feet from my computer. As long as my camera was on, the pictures got uploaded instantly and automatically. Pretty cool! Thank you both so much.
I saw this picture of Obama yesterday and thought it was really nice. Did anyone catch the “Puppedential Debate” on The Daily Show the other night? Anderson Cooper is pretty damn funny. I met him last year at a book signing and he was really friendly (I didn’t meet his his boyfriend). If you missed it, check out “The Road to the Doghouse” The last frame is my favorite! Hilarious.
Also, you may remember my appearance in Seth’s “Peace on Earth” video and benefit song last Thanksgiving. I promised you guys I would let you know when it was available on iTunes, and now it is. If you have iTunes installed, you can click here to purchase the song. Otherwise, just search for “Seth Freeman” from the iTunes Store. It goes to a good cause!
Finally, here are some photos I took from my roof of the sunset on Monday night. Peace!
Here’s a video montage of the best of little Patrick over New Year’s. It’s a great example of why middle aged, overweight white men shouldn’t dance, sing or even clap! Despite my abysmal lack of rhythm, Patrick enjoyed dancing to Elton John & Abba. He also played soccer in his oceanfront backyard and even went fishing in the house!
Saturday Steve brought Lucie, Jack & Roin over and we went to Rockaway Beach for a picnic. Afterwards we went bowling and I actually won twice. (That has never happened to me. Roin, who’s 9 years old, kept saying that I hustled him! LOL. I honestly have no idea how I won, even against the adults!) At any rate here are some photos from our outing.
Surfing lessons
Carey & Lucie
Jack, Carey & Lucie
The notoriously camera shy Roin and kids on the beach.
Patrick, Cathy & Lucie
Jack took this. Not bad for an 11 year old!
Patrick loved bowling! Jack also took this one of me. He likes these angles I think.
David & Hyun Ju flew back from Vegas tonight and we went to Hollywood & Highland for dinner and then to Universal Studios to finally see Gran Torino. It’s described as a humorous, touching and intriguing old school parable and I loved it. I’m curious to know what my readers thought though (especially my Asian readers)? Were its portrayals of the Asian community (specifically the Hmong) fair? Volumes have already been written about this, and I need not rehash them here. If you’ve seen the movie, I’d be curious to know what you think. Though over acted at times by the principles, I felt it touched brilliantly on themes of racism and stereotypes; unlike any movie in recent memory (certainly not any Hollywood fare). The theater we were in was filled with many different races and people were laughing at some of the more overt jokes and crying during the sad parts (myself included). Without giving anything away, the payoff for me came at the end, with one of the characters driving the Gran Torino (and everything it symbolizes), down a Midwest highway. There’s hope in this movie. Just like in Slumdog Millionaire and just like in the inauguration of our new president. And with the way things have been going lately, I’m all for anything that gives us a little hope! Here are some photos from tonight:
911 Dispatcher
Friday night after work I flew from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. While I was waiting to go through security at LAX, 
I want to thank 
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