Watch out, middle aged lady on the dance floor!

My first day in Rome was bananas! After my little trip to the market I walked around my neighborhood, crossed the river to Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori then the Pantheon. I went into the Pantheon last year, but now the scaffolding is gone. It's one of my favorite buildings in Rome.

I was fading fast, since I did not sleep on the plane. The freaking Darth Vader next to me kept me up with her heavy breathing and leaning over onto my seat. She complained the seats were too small the entire trip.

Max, a friend from LA is here visiting her friend. She's a producer who went to Rome over Christmas and fell in love with the city. She called me and asked what I was doing. I was going to take a nap before dinner. She told me under no circumstances take a nap. I will have the worst jet lag. She is staying near me so she picked me up and we walked all the way to TADs. TADs is like the Roman Barneys or Fred Segal. Molto $$$ but very nice.

We had drinks and the best apple tart, on the patio. The waiter bought me some little appetizers with my Mojito. I was confused, I didn't order any. He said it's for the alcohol. uhm okay.  I like this practice.

It took forever to walk back to the appt. I must have walked 5 miles yesterday. Ettore came over to pick me up for dinner. He had to show me how to turn on the TV. I hit the on button, the power comes on then nothing. He takes the remote and presses a random channel, the TV comes on. He says just press a button. Sorry in America, the on/off button turns the TV on/off. You do not have to press another button. Yesterday he helped me change the Italian prompts on my cell phone to English. I seem to be having some issues with basic technology.

We met his friend, Matteo at a local restaurant, very good food, very long dinner. There are so many people out, walking around. We walk to Piazza di Santa Maria and the square is packed! I feel like I'm back in NYC during one of those amazing spring or fall nights. We are about to say goodnight and Matteo gets a call. We could go to a club with his friend. At this point I'm still awake so why not? I can't remember the name of the place. It was outside the center. We didn't have to wait on line and ladies got in free. I tried to pay for Ettore and he was offended.

The club was huge, 3 floors. 3rd floor was techno. Since I wasn't on E. this was not my favorite floor. I can tolerate techno for maybe 10 minutes. Me no likey. 2nd floor was old-school pop, hip-hop and r&b, the first floor same genres but current. I danced non-stop for hours. Who said straight men can't dance? I just loved the vibe. The Dls were excellent. People were there just to dance and maybe make out. There was a drag show at one point. One of the songs was in Italian the other was Madonna, of course. Around 2:30 a.m. (the club stays open til 5) my middle aged self reminded me that I was not at Limelight circa 1985 and I should go to bed.

Buon giorno Roma!

After a long ass day of flying, I'm finally here. The apartment I'm renting is over 600 years old. It overlooks a piazza that has a couple of restaurants with outdoor seating. Very nice.

The owner is an actor working on a series that shoots in Naples, so his girlfriend let me in. Okay off to the supermarcato. Later I'm meeting Ettore, who picked me up at the airport, for dinner.

Ciao tutti (good bye everyone)

Never blog while angry

I am actually looking forward to being on a plane for 15 hours. No phone calls!

So this morning at 8:00 my manicurist called the salon, her car broke down. There were other women at Jessica's who could help me. I felt bad for Maria she was really stressed out.

I dropped off my car at the body shop to be repaired while I'm gone. Walked across the street to the hair salon. No one is there. Finally looked at my cell phone, which I had turned off in the nail salon. My stylist, who is always late, had great excuse this time. She was stuck with a client in Ari-freaking-zona. She left me a cell number of another stylist at the salon, David, who could take me at 2:30. Problem is she gave me the wrong cell number! I couldn't call her back because she was on the plane by then. I remembered that my former boss' wife went to this guy. I had to track down his former assistant who gave me a couple of numbers. I talk to David's former biz partner who gave me a couple of numbers to try. I leave a message for David almost in tears at this point.

I wait forever at Joan's on Third for a to go order, I am very salty. Why is there only one person ringing people up at 12:00? David calls me while I'm waiting on the slowest line in America. So that works out but since I don't have a car I have to walk home and back to the salon. I lose at least an hour out of my day. I read a slipped script while getting my hair twisted, which takes 2 1/2 hours. On the walk home I call my co-workers and the producer to tell them what I think about it.

I still have to finish packing, clean my apartment and go to bed early since Super Shuttle is picking me up at 3:40 a.m. tomorrow.

I arrive in Rome at 8:00 a.m. Friday. I'm tired.

Non parlo l'italiano.

I was awful in class tonight. I think my professor's ears started bleeding after hearing me read out loud. I thought I understood our congiuntivo (subjuntive) homework. Clearly I didn't since almost half of my answers were wrong.

I have a 8:00 a.m. mani/pedi appt. tomorrow. I must go to the gym first. Why am I bloated? I look like I'm in my second trimester. I barely made it through my bootcamp class today.

One Week!

Of course I am stressed out. I have so much to do before I leave. My face looks crazy. Since I've returned to LA from the Caribbean my skin is so dry. As my brother would say, "not a good look."

Suri Cruise?!

What timing, right before M.I.3 has its world wide opening. Why is this major news? It was the lead story on the local news tonight.

Who knows who the father is but the idea that she wasn't even pregnant (see Defamer.com) is hilarious. Sad thing, I wouldn't be shocked if that crazy rumor were true.

Enough about this "relationship".

Vito, Raoul Bova

Last night's Sopranos was outstanding. Poor Vito. I doubt he will make through the season.

I tried to watch "What About Bob?" Couldn't get into it. It felt like they were trying too hard, none of the emotions were earned. However, Raoul Bova looked great.

Roma in 2 weeks!!

That is all I have to say.

Congiuntivo Presente. ugh!!!

Last night was the first class of Italian Intermediate level 2. We will finish our textbook in this class, then it's on to Advanced Italian.

It was like a reunion, same professor, and now I'm back in class with three friends.

So the congiuntivo (the subjunctive) is not used in English that often. Of course it's used frequently in written and spoken Italian. Great. I have so much homework to do it's not funny.

Tonight is graduation for the girls in our Girls Empowerment Workshop at the Hollywood Boys and Girl Club. We are going to have gifts, diplomas, pizza, and cake. I will miss the girls.  They were a great group.

So what will the close election mean for Italy?

three weeks!!

Three weeks from today I plan to walk into Giolotti, near the Pantheon, for a gelato.

I will get my poor car repaired while I'm gone. My insurance adjuster finally spoke to the guy who hit my car. She is going to fight to have his insurance reimburse all our costs. He keeps changing his story, now saying I was speeding. Sorry, going 15-20 miles per hour down a residential street with speed bumps is not speeding. Stronzo!

On Fridays I try to workout outside and hike in Runyon Canyon. I got up at 5:30 today and it was still dark out. So I went to the gym instead and used the elliptical trainer. It's the only time I get to catch up on music videos. I love the new Kanye West video. I just saw the director, Chris Milk's reel. Very, very taleted. Finally saw the Sharika/Wyclef video. Really like that song, must get the CD. Pink's "Stupid Girl" video is sad but funny. I'm still waiting for the Stupid Girl trend to end. Mary J. Blige, still in heavy rotation, cannot get enought of that song. I was sent KT Tunstall's cd a couple weeks ago and it has not left my CD player. Saw her video for the first time. Her debut CD is excellent. Madonna's "Sorry" great, fun dance song. Reminds me of going to skate USA at the Willowbrook Mall back in the day. Good times.

Speaking of the gym, I haven't weighed myself in weeks but I can tell I'm in better shape. I can almost make it through a boot camp class and my clothes are looser.

Still

Raining!! Still dealing with two car insurance companies trying to determine fault over this stupid accident. I am trying very hard to stay positive. So far 06 has not been a good year.

I do believe things are going to get better. Well, professionally anyway. I'm now entering the second month of my strike. Actually I'm going to make it retroactive and say I've been on strike for over a year. Yesterday, two people told me to try online dating again because it's the only way to meet men outside our industry. No thanks. I know, especially in LA, online dating is very popular. It's not for me. The strike continues.

Adam and Eve and T-Rex

ChristoFUH's theory on evolution on last night's Sopranos was hilarious. Paulie has gone off the deep end.

No comment on the Flavor of Love Reunion.

Okay seriously, I am really over this weather. It's raining, again. So glad I didn't have any lunch or drinks meetings today.

I am going to bed super early tonight. One, because I'm bored and two, so I can have some energy for my crazy 6:30 a.m. boot camp class at the gym.