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Gosh, it's been a couple weeks since I updated my blog. Guess I've been busy with the holiday season...too busy living life to have time to write about it!

The holidays always begin for me on my birthday, December 17th. My friend Betty met me for dinner at Miceli's in Hollywood. Then Heidster came down from the Valley and took me to the movies at the Egyptian. We saw a Jeff Bridges double-feature ("The Door In The Floor" and "The Fisher King"), which included an in-person appearance by Mr. Bridges himself. That was cool!!

Christmas was pleasant in Denver. I abbreviated my usual week-long visit to about 4 days this time. It was the perfect amount of time to be there. Long enough to see everyone and not feel too terribly rushed, but still short enough to avoid boredom or frustration. Always leave them wanting more, right?!

My last few trips home have been so hectic and stressful that I ended up feeling more exhausted after my vacation than before it. I've really been burnt out lately so I felt the need to allow a few days to myself at home in LA, and I'm really glad I made that choice.

Today is a dark, rainy day in Los Angeles. I got out of my tour training obligations this morning (who wants to walk around downtown in a downpour?), so I have the whole day to myself to play with my Christmas toys!

Year End Wrap-up 2005

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that the Michael Jackson trial will be one of the biggest news stories in 2005. We'll have to follow the trial all year and the story will be included in all of the "year-in-review" programs about twelve months from now.

Mark my words.

Electronic Reusable Paper?

Check out the next wave of the future HERE.

Worst Commute Ever

Anyone who lives in L.A. knows the traffic is a bitch sometimes, OK most of the time, but tonight was one of the worst commutes ever.

My commute home from UCLA in Westwood to my apartment near Hollywood is approximately 9 miles and usually takes me 20-30 minutes on surface streets. Tonight that 9 mile drive took (drumroll please) two and a half hours! Yes, TWO AND A HALF FUCKING HOURS!!! That's got to be a new record.

I knew it was going to be bad when I pulled out of the parking lot and saw the left turn lane on to Wilshire all backed up. That's OK because I have an alternative route up Sunset I can take so I tried that. Bad idea. Sunset was even more jammed than Wilshire. After thirty minutes, and having traveled barely a mile from my office, I decided to sit out the rush, so I pulled back into one of the parking structures and took a nap while listening to the radio.

An hour later, I decided to brave it, but the roads hadn't improved. I started home anyway and sat in the car for another hour before finally reaching home. I don't know what caused the huge backup. I never saw an accident or heard any reports on the radio, but it was a mess.

Kim Basinger is a Movie Star

Last week I went to the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood to see Kim Basinger in person for her tribute from the American Cinematheque. The program included screenings of Basinger's newest feature The Door In The Floor, co-starring Jeff Bridges, and L.A. Confidential, for which Miss Basinger won an Oscar for her supporting performance.

Although I've enjoyed her work for years, I've never really considered her a great actress. My opinion hasn't really changed, but I do enjoy her presence on screen and in person she is even more lovely.

I remember first seeing Kim Basinger over twenty years ago in the 1983 film Never Say Never Again, which featured the return of Sean Connery as James Bond. She was a total babe and I quickly developed an adolescent crush on her. Now she is a big movie star and an Oscar winner. Even my students from various countries overseas know who she is.

Basinger arrived at the theater with her own entourage. There was her publicist and an assistant, plus at least two big beefy guys in suits who served as her security guards, as if anyone at the Egyptian would hassle her...it's not that kind of crowd. It was strange to see the security personnel there, and somewhat comical as they shielded her from the movie audience as she entered and exited the theater. (I heard later from a friend who said Basinger has agoraphobia and therefore mistrusts crowds.)

I've seen a lot of famous stars hold court at the Egyptian. They often come to promote their current movie (The Door In The Floor comes out on DVD Dec 14th) or the relive the glory days of a classic film. Never have I seen a star arrive with a security detail. She is a big star in the classic Hollywood sense: strikingly beautiful, somewhat talented, and extremely glamorous.

The Door In The Floor is based on the novel A Widow For One Year by John Irving. It's a decent film focusing on the first third of the book (an oustanding read by the way) and it's a very sad story, full of grief and emotional performances and Miss Basinger held her own with Jeff Bridges, who never ceases to be extremely entertaining.

After the screening, Miss Basinger arrived to discuss the film with the head of the American Cinematheque, who asked leading and pretentious questions as usual. She did a fine job of replying equally pretentiously ("The director told my agent, 'if she fears the role, she'll take the job'"). Then there were a few questions from the audience. Nothing surprising or exceptional. I wanted to ask her about Never Say Never Again, but I was too shy to raise my hand and probably wouldn't have been noticed since I was sitting toward the back of the house.

At the conclusion of the Q&A, Miss Basinger posed for a few publicity photos, then she was whisked away by her security detail through the emergency exits, entourage in tow. Ah, the life of a movie star.

After a short break, the double feature continued with L.A. Confidential, the great film directed by Curtis Hanson (whom I saw two years ago at the DGA), and the role for which Miss Basinger won her coveted Oscar. Ironically, when an audience member asked her about playing that part, Ms B couldn't even remember her character's name. Oh well, easy come easy go.

P.S. I just realized today, Dec 8, is Kim Basinger's birthday. Happy Birthday, Kim!

First Ken, Now Tom?!

As if saying goodbye to Ken Jennings last night on Jeopardy wasn't bad enough, tonight Tom Brokaw gave his last report as the anchor of the NBC Nightly News. God, what is the world coming to??

I always liked Tom. He was a reassuring voice in the worst of circumstances, and he seems to have a keen intellect and respect for history. I must admit I migrated to Peter Jennings (no relation to Ken) a couple of years ago, but I would still flip over to see how Tom was doing now and then. He's like somebody's favorite old uncle who can't pronounce his "L's".

Brokaw's replacement will be Brian Williams, who has been anchoring news programs on cable's MSNBC for some time. He's great -- a wonderful reporter, and a sly sense of humor as well.

Farewell Tom, and let's go Brian!