I didn't realize how busy this past
week was until I began to sketch out this blog. Yes, I do
deliberately plan these things! Let's see, in the creative column,
there was editing 60 pages of Manga, putting out some fires connected
the the blog we'd just finished, drawing up an actor schedule for a
film without benefit of the very helpful software (it involves
converting a lot of fractions – yes, little Joey, you DO use
fractions in real life – then, piling the breakdown pages by scene,
then by day shoot and night shoot and then by characters), writing a
clever and insightful (at least, I hope it was) 2500 word essay on
public transit in Los Angeles and editing 20 minutes of messy footage
into a 4 minute video with trembling hands. The tremors in my hands
come when I get too little sleep and too much stress. It's a
lingering side effect from the chemo I was on. There is a wide array
of opinions on whether or not the tremors and the numbness in my feet
will fade away completely. The tasks I accomplished on the personal
side will be detailed throughout the blog.
Here is the video.
I did a tutorial for ex-pats in Japan on how they can make a Philly
steak sandwich with ingredients from the local market. I did it for
relatives of my in-laws and some ex-pat friends. The sound editing is
not as smooth as I'd like. That was from the shaky hands. I could
have re-edited everything, but I was tired and ready to move on.
Month of Fun – Indulgences Galore!
The indulgences during the Month of Fun
aren't just about having fun. It's also about taking the time to do
things for oneself that it is often hard to make time for. I don't
mean eating right or exercising. I consider that part of what Jon
calls my primary job of getting back to what passes for normal. I
mean finding time for girly things. I haven't had a manicure or
pedicure for a couple of years. I can't remember when I last had a
facial. I'm not ready to go have these things at a spa. Since my
immune system was compromised, I have to avoid places where there is
a chance for infection. Yes, that is on the list. So are salad bars
and buffets. Think about that. For now and the foreseeable future, I
am doing home beauty treatments. That means a lot of research on
places like google and youtube. I was aghast at how many videos and
web pages are dedicated to these procedures. Since I haven't done
these in a long, long while, I am slow. Everything is an ordeal and
seems to require a great many substances and all kinds of equipment.
But of course, I find humor in all of
this. There was an intriguing recipe for a very inexpensive and easy
facial that promised to remove whiteheads and blackheads and leave
skin very soft. It involved egg whites and strips of toilet paper.
The idea was to mimic products like Biore facial strips. I gave it a
whirl after doing my involved, deep cleansing regimen. The most
difficult stage was trying to smooth all the paper strips on my
problem areas before the egg whites dried too much. Somehow, that
stage was accomplished and I looked like a Hammer studios mummy
wearing a tee shirt and Capri pants. I sat in the living room next to
Jon, who was on his computer, for a half an hour waiting for the
strips to dry and harden. He never noticed. I'll take a photo next
time. The facial worked! My skin looks and felt great.
Once I had my face, nails and hair in
order, I turned my attention to cosmetics. I haven't worn those much
in the last few years. And from what I'm finding on youtube, I am
very much behind the times. When did false eyelashes come back??!!
And what's with the sparkly eyeshadow? The regimens I found on line
involved primers (like in paint?) and bases and primary coats and
contouring and highlighting and blending. I didn't know I had a lash
line and a water line around my eyes. And I thought eyeshadow beneath
the lower lashes was considered a mistake. I live in a climate where
most make-up melts off. That's a constant problem on any of my sets.
How am I going to wear all of these layers without a make-up artist
following me with a blotter. If I use a spray to set my make-up, will
it ever come off? I spent a long time staring at things in confusion
at the local drug store. According to the videos, I man eight brushes
(at a cost of $120) shy of what I need to correctly apply makeup. And
I don't have nearly enough products. Do I really need a palette of
120 eye shadows? How many different shades of brown does a gal need,
for goodness sake? I updated some products that had dried up or
clumped and called it a day.
I used my new make up and updated
application skills to make myself presentable for a very special
lunch. Marie honored me with a special double treat. One was lunch at
the very trendy and popular Bottega Louie's.
The other was sharing her time with her wonderful Mom. She is an
accomplished cook whose brain I'd wanted to pick for years. She is
also very witty with a wicked sense of humor. I see where Marie gets
those wonderful traits. The food was incredible. I had a small plate
of perfectly cooked diver scallops (I can never get them quite
right). That kind of beautifully prepared seafood makes me want to
dance in my seat. And it was so rich and dense that between that and
the panzanella salad, I had no room for the decadent desserts. We
wisely took them home. I had such a blast. Still, I missed farmer's
market Tuesday and martinis with Marie. We will be sure to do that
this week.
The last big fun for the week was a
trip to Surfas restaurant supply in Culver City. It is a fantasy land for cooks. I
had a very modest list of items that turned out to be in one small
section of the store. We managed to explore all of it as I always
do. This time, I was after vanilla mean paste, a substance that is
far cheaper than the beans but has the same intense flavor and lasts
forever on the pantry shelf. I also got some new pastry brushes, and
another dough scraper. However, I made a list of many, many more
items that I would love to have, including a chef's coat! Hinting for
Christmas!
No updates from last week. Haven't I
been busy enough?! I have production meetings of all sorts this week.
Stay tuned.
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