Starfish Envy

Yes, I Am Posting A Funny Kitten Video

But I needed a little something to laugh at today, and there it was.  Like an oasis in the desert.  

 

If you didn't laugh OUT LOUD at that, you're not human.

More Introductions!

I seem to be on a People-I-Know-And-Love streak, so to keep that streak going...

Tonight I'd like to introduce you to Maurissa and Jed.  That's Tancharoen Whedon and just plain Whedon, respectively.  The creative talents behind all sorts of good things, from some of the best episodes of Dollhouse, to the brilliant Whedon-family-extravaganza that is Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.  (If you haven't listened to Mo's song in the musical commentary, DO SO RIGHT NOW.)

In addition to being the cutest couple ever, they do these cute little quirky-awesome songs.  In their spare time.  Just for fun.

If I didn't love them, I'd hate them for being so talented.

 

And now that you're in love with them, too, check out Maurissa's brand-new blog, It's So Not Sexy, in which she recounts her ongoing ass-kicking experience living with Lupus.  

Just to be clear, Maurissa's the one kicking ass. 

And taking names.

And, apparently, making sandwiches.

Introducing A New Web Series... PERKS!

When WP and I first moved to LA, we joined a writers' group.  Over a period of about four years, the group was incredibly important to our development as writers.  Also, they were just cool people to hang out with.

One of those cool people, Bill Oliver, ended up studying to be a director and eventually moved to New York.  

WP and I were sad to see him go because in addition to being The Nicest Guy On The Planet, he's supremely talented.  

Want some evidence?

For your enjoyment, here's the pilot of a new web series, Perks.

Directed by Bill Oliver!

  

An Apple TV A Day...

Anybody out there have Apple TV?

I bought it several months ago, then got a second one in a gift bag at Fancy Hollywood Party, but didn't have it hooked up until this week... and all I can say is WHAAAAAA?????????

I mean there are a lot of cool things in the world.

Water.  Air.  iPads.  Down comforters.  Pinkberry.

But Apple TV... 

IN.  SANE.

With just the press of some buttons, I can rent movies or TV shows from iTunes.  Or watch something from my computer. Or listen to a playlist from my computer over my TV speakers. Or go to Netflix and rent, oh I dunno, JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

I think it does other stuff I'm not even aware of yet, like solve world hunger and create world peace, but I haven't explored it that thoroughly yet.  Maybe I'll find the world peace button tomorrow.

Now wouldn't that be nice?

Seeing And Hearing Double

I loved this post tonight from my friend Yogini Cowgirl.  

Particularly because, at the moment, I have TWO phones-- my regular never-far-from-my-fingertips iPhone, and a new Canadian iPhone.  

We tried a Blackberry first, but it made me want to claw my eyes out then crawl blindly across the floor to shred it into metal pulp with my teeth.  (Once again, I blame the progesterone.)

Why do I need two phones?  

Because even though I have an international plan on my usual phone, while I'm working in Canada it's easier for my business calls/emails/texts to go through the Canadian phone so we don't have to deal with complicated re-imbursement-y type issues, eh?

All this is well and good (aside from the constant shifting back and forth) except that today I drained the batteries on BOTH phones and had to constantly recharge them in shifts just to make it through the day.

Pathetic.

I think I need an LO to hide my phones in the (SPOILER ALERT!) clothes hamper.

Unfortunately, I just don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

Sunny Side Up

Things have been a little grim lately, so tonight we're going to spend some time on the sunny side of the street.  

1) My remodel is thisclose to being done, and my house looks fantastic.

2) I'm thrilled that I decided to add the front patio.  Once I get planters built and a privacy hedge around the top of the wall, it's going to be one of my favorite places in the whole house.

3) Moose.  

4) My Aunt Gene was in town while everything was going down with Chloe, and I'll be forever grateful for her support, love, and guidance.

5) I have central heat and air conditioning!!!

6) Moose.

7) Laurie March.  I wouldn't have made it through the last six months without her.  If you live in LA and you're remodeling and you DON'T call her, you're crazy.

7) For the first time in a couple years, I have an easy commute.  It's amazing what an enormous difference that makes in my overall quality of life.

8) This last month has made me especially grateful for my friends.  I've relied on them a lot-- more than I'm comfortable with, frankly-- but they've been amazing.

9) Our assistant, Elysse.  When I had the flu, and no gas to operate my stove, she brought me microwavable chicken noodle soup and microwavable brown rice.  Didn't even know that existed, did you?  Brilliant.

10) Finally, at some point in the last couple weeks, this little blog o' mine reached 200,000 lifetime hits.  That's right.  Two.  Hundred.  Thousand!  In less than a year and a half.  If that's not something to feel good about, I don't know what is.  

From the bottom of my heart... thanks for reading, guys.  

Just A Little Rant

Apparently, it's not enough that my internet service is down.  

Apparently, my computer also feels the need to get into the my-technology-is-screwing-me game.  

So here's what I have to say to you, internet: bite me.  And screw you right back, computer.  I will conquer you.  I WILL WIN.  Yes, you may cost me a thousand dollars and my last nerve.  But this is not over.

I WILL TAKE YOU DOWN.

YOUR.  ASS.  IS.  MINE.

There.

So glad that's off my chest.  

Okay, I'm Starting To Get It. Sort Of.

This blog has done a lot for me.

It's helped me become more comfortable with the idea of having a child by myself; introduced me to new friends and readers; helped me reconcile my single-hood; kept me focused when I felt like spinning out; provided a place to record my (still-ongoing) remodel; given me a forum to rant when I need to rant; and been a valuable sounding board and source of advice, thanks to everyone who comments and emails.

But the biggest thing this little blog has done for me-- this week, anyway--  is make me re-think Twitter.

After your comments on Monday, I re-assessed my approach to the monster that is Twitter and decided I've been all around too slapdash.  

So I unfollowed several people whose tweets didn't do much for me, and started searching for people who shared my interests.  I gotta be honest, I'm still having a hard time with the whole searching thing-- it seems haphazard, at best, and it's virtually impossible to find what you're looking for most of the time.  But I'm working on it. And while I still don't know what the hell a meme is, and I haven't a clue how to use the word 'fail' properly, I think I've started to understand what hash marks are all about. 

Also, I've learned that, when it comes to being funny in 140 characters or less, no one beats Mindy Kaling.

Twitterific?

For the first time in my life, I am surrounded by twitterers. 

Not that I haven't known twitterers, of course.  (Tweeters?)  Gretchin Rubin is on Twitter.  After some prodding by my writing partner, Shawn Ryan started tweeting-- but aside from checking in now and then on his tweets, it wasn't a very present element of my day.  And WP is on Twitter, though I think she's only tweeted once.

Lately, though, people around me tweet regularly.  (It just sounds silly, doesn't it? When will the words "Twitter" and "tweet" become so normalized that they stop sounding funny?)  For one hundred and forty characters or less, it's a brilliant way to keep fans engaged with a show.  I'm sure it's also an effective tool for building a fan base, if that's what your goal is.  

Personally, I've never really figured out how to use Twitter.  I mean, I know the mechanics.  I just don't understand the (for lack of a better word) culture of Twitter.

There are certain elements of Twitter that I like.  Direct messages are handy.  And I love being able to have quick exchanges with friends and readers, many of whom feel like friends-- thanks, in part, to Twitter.

But what does # mean?  And once I know, what am I supposed to do with that knowledge?   Why do some people tweet INCESSANTLY?  Who should I follow?  How do I even find people I'd be interested in following?  

Most importantly, how should I use Twitter?  How often should I tweet and what about?  

Frankly, it's all just kind of baffling.

So I'm begging you.  Enlighten me.  Spill it.  Give me the skinny.  How do you tweet?    

The Answer Is: Get

I'm not known for my self-control, so it's probably no surprise that when it came to getting-or-not-getting an iPad, I didn't exactly resist.  Truth be told, I didn't even put up a respectable fight.

Friday afternoon, when I got an email saying my iPad had arrived at the store, my plan was to think on it over night and, if I decided to move forward, head to the store Saturday morning.

And yet, what did I do on the way home from work?  

That's right.  Straight to the Apple store.  

I couldn't be more thrilled.  

My iPad and I spent the weekend getting to know each other.  I bought apps, I watched a movie, I played games, I doodled.  I downloaded a progressive alarm clock and a yoga app.  I downloaded apps for finding movie times, playing sudoku, and pranayana breathing.  I watched the Chuckles the Clown episode of Mary Tyler Moore, which is much talked about in writers' rooms, though I'd never seen it.  Now I have-- along with the pilot of the 70's classic, Alice.  Which is why I'll be saying "kiss my grits" a lot for the next week or so.

My only criticism is that the iPad is slightly heavier that I expected... but I suppose that's what happens when you get everything you've ever wanted in one nine and a half by seven and a half inch package.