Barry's Big Day Out.

Oh to be living in America during such momentous times..

On January 20 2009 I sat in my home with Gilli and Jeff as we watched Barack Hussein Obama pledge his oath and be sworn is at President of the United States of America.

He said all that needs to be said for this day.

A few quotes:

"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans......

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship".

A Brand New (Rudd) Day!!!

Monday, November 26, 2007

Just had to quickly stop by the ol' blog and say YEEE HAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. After nearly 12 years of political shame I am now so very proud now to say I am Australian - especially living overseas. Kevin Rudd's new Labor leadership holds great promise. I look forward to observing from afar the swiftly shifting sands of Australia's political climate. Yes to the Kyoto Principle, No to the Iraq War (bringing our soldiers home) No to the Workplace Agreement (how wonderful he will turn around Howard's shocking removal workers rights) Yes to Indigenous Rights (bring back the full power of Mabo & Land Rights) Plus Greater social compassion for those in need in the community, better health care and imporved education opportunties for all Australians and better guardianship of our planet... KEVIN 07........what a wonderful moment in history to remember! Currently reading: EMERGENCY SEX: AND OTHER DESPERATE MEASURES By Kenneth Cain Release date: 25 October, 2006

Wine, Song, Birthday, Cast Member Status & Being In The Vortex

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Forgive me family and friends - it's been six weeks since my last confession , no - blog! and so much has, and is still happening. My Californian Life is still unfolding happily... Main state of play is that I'm currently in the throes of developing the art of the balancing the creative soul and corporate life in America. Work has essentially been all-consuming. For these first few months at Disney it has been a tad tiring as I've been getting to know the job, and on a sharp learning curve. Settling in to the American Corporate world while ingesting the Disney culture and work methodology has left me with little energy or time for much else, but I am slowly coming to grips with the subtle ebb and flow of my days, and am finally feeling creatively inspired again. I decided that, as the sedentary office sloth life is adding to my girth, I would ride a push bike to work. But in the first week I got knocked off my bike, so ends that adventure - took me a while to get over that bump! Have to find something else to do at either end of my long work day... One fun thing outside work has been that I won ticket to see the LA Dodgers play and went with pals Rory, Nina and a host of Aussies - only to meet more there, including Ms Missy Higgins. Thus town is teeming with Antipodeans. Great time to be in LA, that's for sure. Have been thoroughly enjoying my membership of Australians in Film with a flurry of excellent film screenings including - Eastern Promises & Elizabeth of The Golden Age. I'm also now a card carrying member of Australians in LA and the Australian American Association too. We have a Malibu picnic coming up soon - should be fun. And, finally, I've been accepted into the Women in Film Association in LA as a professional member. A few weeks back I also attended a wonderful 'dual birthday gig' performed by Aussies Kelly Rowland & Ian Hopkinson at Genghis Cohen which also featured the amazing and talented Neil Murray (of Warumpi fame) who has been touring and adventuring across America. The music on this night was sublime and the poetry of some lyrics of a few songs stays with me now...Kelly musing over trading wings for diamonds on the eve of her engagement and Ian being more than the dust at his feet as he finds his way in LA. We coerced Neil into singing his brilliant composition 'Island Home' which always arouses a certain nostalgia for Australia... I celebrated my birthday in style this year - my first in America. Jen and I took a trip to the central coast to get out of LA. Jen traveled ahead on Thursday, and on the Friday after work I took the Amtrak train coastal ride to meet her. Excellent train journey right alongside the pacific ocean - Time to reflect on life while looking over the water and thinking of home... After a rather bumpy start late on Friday night with some idiots at the train station hassling me we went to a wonderful restaurant where I found an unlikely glass of Coopers pale ale!!! The taste of Australia. While there on the balcony chatting we met two great gals -one a chef who'd just had the soft opening of her cafe. We were given the inside running on the vineyards to hit on Saturday and then they took us to another bar where we danced with the Pasa Robles Friday night crew... a lot of fun. We slept over at Jen's niece's place who lives up there. Saturday, after an early morning stop to acquire the requisite bottles of delicious Almond Champagne (Jen introduced me to this wonder and it's a must for a birthday celebration!!!) at Arroyo Robles Winery tasting room we put the top down on her sweet red convertible mustang. With the wind in our hair, we left town and wound our way along the winding, scenic cliff-hugging road of the 46 across to the Pacific Coast. At the shimmering blue we turned right on the 1 and cruised up to Cambria to have brunch with the gorgeous pal of Jen's, Brad at the Creek Cafe where I breakfasted on fabulously drowned Eggs Florentine. Then began our true vineyard adventure... With Brad as our designated driver we wound our way back across the 46 and our first stop - Lone Madrone. This vineyard has the most wonderful herb and flower garden you could imagine. Eight varieties of lavender, ten of mint, etc and the blooms were all buzzing with bees. Wandering amongst the flowers, we enjoyed their beauty and array of scents in the sunshine, and watched the amazing hummingbirds enjoy the various nectares...heaven. Finally ambling back for our first initial taste of Vino we noticed a side entrance , and discovered Vin Fusion. This is home to an independent winemaker also residing on the Lone Madrone premises. We met and had a lovely long chat with the Vitner, an ex copywriter from New York who has upped and changed her life, for the better it would seem! She and her offsider introduced us to her magical blends of organic wines infused with herbs and flowers - delicious. We left having purchased a few bottles including two named Amethyst & Onyx plus some Mexican chilli-chocolate. A stop into the actual Lone Madrone shop brought us face to face with the usual wine- tasting weekend crowd crush and a quick purchase of their Syrah (after a poll of the existing wine tasters who'd already paid for the tasting!) got us out of there quick smart... Next stop was Summerwood, a large well known company, but we three decided we didn't want to do the big industrial wine tour, and actually didn't even like the wine so it was only cheese and olives purchased on that stop. Next we hightailed it off highway 46 and turned onto the rambling Vineyard Drive to venture to Pasolivo, home of the best Californian Olive Estates, good friends of Brad's too! The Pasolivo Ranch has 45 acres of olive trees and make all the Oils in their own press. The switch from wine to bread and olive oils was divine intervention. We sampled a superb array of products and left with a lot of booty - Oils: Lemon flavoured, Lime infused, a Kalamata Extra Viirgin and the signature Pasolivo Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an excellent balsamic vinegar, bottles of olives, candles, creams and a hat!(the Californian sunshine beating down in a convertible can be too much sometimes!). Next we followed our chef friend's advice and searched for the tiny Poalillo Vineyard and Winery nestled on Willow Creek Road. This proved to be the diamond Vineyard of our little tour. Of course there's a story, Poalillo is not listed in the Paso Robles Wine Country Guide, and that in my estimation is a crime. Our Vitner was the sweet Charlie Poalillo. Charlie and his wife were once a young couple struggling in Los Angeles in the 1950's when Charlie tasted some wine. He loved it, became inspired and decided to become a winemaker. 10 years later - he owned the very Vineyard of that wine he loved so much and had renamed it for his families moniker - Paolillo. In the tasting room there's a wonderful black and white photo of Charlie and his wife pressing their first crop of grapes. They're standing in the wooden tubs, his trouser legs are rolled up, his wife's skirt is hitched high and they're both laughing at the good fortune of their lives. And all these years later Charlie is still at it, making wine that he likes with his wife, son and daughter. And they are winning awards. The wine is elegant, uncomplicated and simply beautiful. Charlie is part of the charm. On their 60th Anniversary a few years back their son and daughter took an old photographic portrait of Charlie and his wife (taken by a photogrpaher pal in LA during a hot summer in the 50's) to an artist who sketched it in a De Vinci style, and this is now their label. Sweet. Take note that this was the only vineyard we visited that did not charge to taste...that's the way in the USA. Pay to taste - and only if you're lucky will they deduct the fee when you buy. So the best of Charlie's crop (which I purchased) are the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, 2005 Chardonnay, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2004 Zinfadel and the sublime masterpiece is Charlie's Extreme Reserve II 2003 Zinfadel. After the vineyard tour Brad, Jen and I, sated and well stocked with wines traveled back to the coast and headed down to the Abalone Farm which Brad manages. This is a very special part of the world. Officially known as Cayucos, Brad's home is a wonderful cliff-side 'beach-shack' sitting above the Abalone Farm The Farm comprises of a series of water channels pumping sea water through buildings housing abalone growing in huge tubs and and sea-scoured concrete tanks hanging over a windblown bluff on the Pacific coast just north of Morro Bay. Abalone, which are now so rare in the wild that it's illegal to catch it commercially are nurtured and grown and sold to the US and a growing overseas market. The area reminded me of my old home on the Northshore of Port Macquarie. In Australia the environment was windswept beaches, dolphins, whales offshore and oysters. Here it's stunning cliffs, seals on the beach, whales offshore and abalone. And in this heavenly place live two wonderful men who I know will become close friends over time. Brad and Mike, with Mike's teenage son Aaron - these three were our gentlemen hosts. Brad of course manages the Farm, Mike is a Radio DJ & Teacher and Aaron has aspirations of becoming an animator (more on this later). Jen has known them for years from when she lived up here as a Radio DJ, and I first met Brad when he came down during the summer of Allioti fun just after the Mexico trip when I made almond tequila margaritas for him on a hot summer eve. And now he cooked up a storm. I, loving the chance to cook as well, assisted. Another couple arrived, this was a cinematographer pal Cameron and his gal. We enjoyed the sunset on the balcony overlooking the ocean and dined in the guys wonderful home on delicious food and fine wine. A truly wonderful night with great company. Sunday morning dawned slow... Brad gave Jen and I a tour of the Abalone Farm. When we returned to the house Mike had whipped up a yummy Frittata for brunch to set Jen and I on the road for our trip back to LA. But of course a trip up to Californian Central Coast wouldn't be complete without a stop at the Madonna Inn. This is an iconic, bizarre 119 room Inn where each room is themed. And extravagantly so. Ostentatiously so. It's like Barbara Cartland meets the Flintstones on acid. A real treat for an Aussie - that's for sure! Jen and I then sailed along the PC1 back to LA enjoying the sea air with the top down and the sun still shining...just a wonderful birthday treat for me to spend time away from LA with my new American friends. The eve of my American birthday Jen and Gilli took me to Olivio - a wonderful Italian restaurant in S.Oaks, and then on my actual birthday I was treated to delicious massive cupcakes (an American style birthday treat) then Gilli and Jeff took me to Senor Fred for dinner where we ate some excellent Mexican fare with wonderful Margaritas. The lovely Jane Johnston rounded out the week when she invited me for a brilliant meal and a night of fun at her West Hollywood pad. A few care packages (from Mum and Ang) and message from Australia made me a tad homesick, but Cherie's offer to make me a flight buddy of her hubby's makes it all fine! I can fly QANTAS on the cheap for a while! so happy about that perk. What a present!!! My birthday present to myself was to attend the Entertainment Forum on Saturday October 6th and Sunday October 7th (9.30-7pm both days) at the InterContinental, Los Angeles/Century City on Avenue of the Stars (I love that street name!) After 2 days I felt completely inspired and informed by the amazing array of panels discussing all kinds of topics, consisting of entertainment veterans and decision makers - filmmakers, showrunners, executive producers, bankers and actors who variously discussed equity, budgets, scripts, shows, jobs, how to get where and who to contact to do so..it was incredibly enlightening for a newcomer to La La. On the Saturday - a glorious sunny autumn day they included the Women In Film Business Leadership Awards Luncheon which honoured Iris Grossman, Talent Agent, ICM and Michelle Satter Founding Director, Feature Film Program at the Sundance Institute. Both wonderful women who have achieved so much in their careers. A highlight was to attend the discussion with Robin Swicord about The Jane Austin Book Club. After my time with Robin last year during the Aurora Screenwriting Workshop is was fun and educational to see her in her own land. Robin proved quite giving and frank as she shared many stories about the experience of directing her first feature in Hollywood. This week, due to young Aaron's mention of wanting a career in animation I invited them to town and organized a tour of the Disney Online VR studio(where they're created the Pirates Online Game), then we took a trip over for lunch at the Commissary, a tour on a few of the Disney Lot Sound-stages and (jewel in the crown) a walk around the Feature Animation (ABC) building. What an excellent day we had. It's one of the perks of being in this amazing company that I have access to this kind of thing - but even better to share with a young kid with ambition. The Feature animation tour, arranged by our lovely guide was so inspiring - she showed us so much that most aren't privy to. We sat in the Roy Disney Office which is located in the 'Magician's Hat' (an architectural feature of the Animation building) and watched in-house clips of project being developed..it was quite simply, magical, and so rewarding to see young Aaron's face light up and his eyes shine with the certainty of desire - he has found his career path. I loved being part of that experience. And now I am on the cusp of another big change in this American adventure... On Monday, October 15, I officially join the Disney Company. It has taken four month of 'contract probation', and an intense investigation into me, my abilities, qualifications and my past to get this approval. Disney seriously doesn't let everyone in. It takes time to prove your commitment and interviews to assess whether you are of the right type to fit in to the fold. In fact I, forthwith, will be what is known as a 'Cast Member'. A real part of the team - with all the adjuncts and booty too! - brilliant health care benefits (so needed in the US), a solid and reassuring wage package (plus overtime) and best of all free access to all Disneyland's, huge discounts on Disney events, package trips, merchandising and shows. Let the magic begin. Currently reading: The Cat Sanctuary By Patrick Gale Release date: January, 1992

Viva Baha

Friday, August 24, 2007

Took five days out of LA life to venture down to Baha. It's amazing when you just spin in a flurry of automobiles at 70 miles an hour San Diego disappears in the exhalation of a sigh, and in a blink you're in Mexico. The roads becomes rougher, the litter of humanity animate and inanimate increases and the terrain is less green,more tired and dusty, like the dreams of those who come to reside in Tiajana. The houses are certainly less salubrious - cement boxes with windows framing the expansive no man's land divide. We cruised on down the coast past the big Jesus (and I mean big), Fox Studios, Rosarito, some hideous new resort towers and lazy town Pueto Nuevo until we came upon our quarry - Mision La Playa and met our rather unimpressed security guard who languidly opened the massive gates - so this is enclave living..built circa 1970's, it's right on the beach in a row of eclectic abodes... Along the dusty road we came upon our holiday house - the most fabulous pink adobe with a courtyard of succulents ranging up the walls and thriving in pots, contrasting deep greens against the pink-painted brick. Then inside and I stood dumbfounded in aesthetic awe... Surely decorated in 1973 I wiggled my toes in the luxury of orange shag rugs, shell encrusted trinkets and hanging mobiles, copper seahorses, sweet birds and a stunning pelican taking pride of place, centre of our Mexican universe facing the beach, shiny in his copper glory ready to take flight and join his compatriots along the shoreline. The decor was all dark wood paneling, deep-red leather bar stools with groovy 70's wrought iron (black) swirling backs, fab dark green chairs around the wood paneled table where all serious drinking, dining, chatting and one lackadaisical attempt at card games happened. Across the room stood a massive stone fireplace that can only be described as 'groovy' with a dark copper sun front and centre. The finishing touches were woolen creative macramé hangings (to die for), tiled surfaces covered everywhere the wood paneling isn't, two long brown plaid couches that we oft snoozed, reclined and slumbered on, fine venetian blinds revealing the dazzling stretch of blue, blue ocean and stained glass light fittings shimmering a hazy vibrant glow through the house... Step out and gasp the sea air like a hungry man... the verandah hangs over slate and concrete pathways lined with more succulents outlining steps leading down to the wide sands of the beach (Playa) and onto the sand before the deep blue shimmer of Senorita Pacifica - hazy with a marine layer smudging the horizon. Mexican kids on horseback, laughing and playing, ambled past, silhouetted against the blue waves where dolphins frolicked and pelicans flew in perfect formation up along the beach to the point a few miles away. They surely were the inspiration for the original Mexican wave! I was, quite simply, in heaven... A few days later I explored the lounge room and opened massive cupboard to find the shrine to Saint Margarita!!! Rows of margarita glasses, candles, tequila bottles and all the the accoutremonts one needs to party with the liquid gold of Mexico including over ten packets of playing cards (best intentions)... Our agenda was as follows: Day One - in a rush to party hard we hurried down to the beach bars, learnt the requisite, rudimentary Spanish to get us by and drank far too may of the 99c margaritas... the night became a blur. I woke having bought a slingshot, a silver ring and a pack of cards and apparently became betrothedto a bra owner who wanted the elusive American life (Ha)! Jeff was sound asleep on the verandah wrapped in towels, Larry's night was completely blank and Gilli was a tad grey around the gills and worse for wear. The second day we paced ourselves (and bought a greater variety of finer quality tequila). We visited PN AKA Lobsterville and did a spot of haggling with the touts and shopping. We also found a treasure of a hideaway - a Cuban coffee shop. In n the dark glowing orange interior we took a reprieve from the hot white light shimmering off the street stalls and their many trinkets outside. Day three dawned and it was pure 'chillville'... doing not much but kicking back (all the while I devoured Harry Potter's last book). Day four we explored Encinada markets and the seashore with huge seals lolling in the waters, watching us watching them, watching us... The crew dined on fish tacos, nachos, beer (for a change) more margaritas and then Claude found the amazing tequila shop with over 1000 different types of this amber heaven.. You see, all the while we were there we supping on tequila we devised many dishes for my tequlia cookbook..damn if it doesn't go with everything! The company was sublime, the wit high and dry, and with some brilliantly accomplished musicians from Australia, Texas and Louisiana in fine form and happy to play the days away. We were completely spoilt...the sun always set to the dulcet slide guitar solos or harp warling tunes. One night a beach bonfire found us hanging with the rest of Danny's crew. the shimmer of firelight, the glow of the faces, the music of our clan. Just swimming in the beloved Pacifica and ambling with sand between the toes were the order of the day.. and simply watching life amble by, while the pelicans and dolphins enjoyed their domain. Each night we Antipodeans stargazed, a tad befuddled at the strange new constellations, yet marveling at their formations while enjoying the lapping cool evening air and brine wafting up from the beach. This was a truly wonderful sojourn and one of the best most chilled holidays I've had in a long while - with a great crew of people - newly wed and lip-locked Melissa & Matt, fun loving and chilled Gilli & Jeff, larrikin Larry from down under, poised Bronnie and the inimitable Claude.... But now it's back into work this week, with a few Crisis Management Courses thrown in for good measure. But I can't, nor want to forget the times, the food, the chilled-out mood from the amber fluid, the people and I really must get the cook book in order! Viva Mexico!!! Currently listening: Missa Mexicana By Peruvian Anonymous Release date: 14 October, 2003

A Trip to Sunset Strip

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Tripped over Laurel Canyon this week with Ms Kaylee for an adventure to see Augie March...bloody BRILLIANT performance (if not a tad short), and I'd won the tickets (thank you Advance). Met up with Andy Clockwise and Henry Fenton - two talented Aussie muso's in their own right. So we sat up in a booth and supped on Vodka and Cranberry while enjoying the array of acts, including The Red Wall - who I also really enjoyed - Chicago group on tour. The other light entertainment included a verrrrry drunk Scottish girl wobbling all over the shop - all night...and the general mix of Sunset Strip trippers. The Rainbow was the perfect spot to end the night..three storey house filled with gaggles of people off their nanas lounging on couches and staggering about on bad carpet...made my week! Otherwise I'm working slavishly hard and saving the pesos...House of Mouse is endlessly entertaining, and educational.... plus I discovered the Writer & Director's Fellowship program this week..sounds like a good thing to try for later this year when it opens. The jacuzzi and pool give splendid respite at the end of the day, and this summer is passing fasting than a buzzard dining on roadkill... Off to Mexico with a gaggle of compatriots next Thursday for 5 days - was starting to get itchy feet - so that will cool it a bit... the lovely Jane Johnson is back and in country - East Coast I think at the moment - and it'll be fun to catch up with her again. Had a visit from some of my San Fran couchsurfing fraternity when they came for pancakes and a swim at the mansion last weekend...lovely to see the gals again. Not much else really. Time to head back for the pool... Saturday is blissfully empty of obligations this week... Just enjoy the slideshows from the roadtrip LA to Montana, Seattle, Washington, Portland,Oregon and also old pics from Anzac day in La La and Cinco de Mayo ... Tales from Mexico next............. Currently listening: Moo, You Bloody Choir By Augie March Release date: 13 March, 2006

Sunday, July 15, 2007

.....The Pursuit of Happiness Well the past month has flown... Back in La La and working for the Mouse - getting used to doing a 45+ hr week at an office takes just a tiny bit of adjustment. But I am the luckiest gal. Great people to work with and I can drive to work in 12 easy minutes and don't need to engage in 'riding-on-the-freeway sports' at all and can enjoy a swim or jacuzzi every evening when i get home.... believe me that's a miracle in La La! This week I was supposed to be going back to Australia...but with all things considered:Mum is recovering well now, tickets are over $2400, the hacienda is packed up and selling, my Baba is gone - and there's no financially viable film work for me... I might as well stay here where I have opportunities and solidify my new life. I am missing one very important event: Colin's birthday. But that's just the way things are for me. Living on the other side of the planet far from the ones I love, trying to start a new life. But I'm not the first immigrant who's left their homeland, come to America and had to experience than pangs and sense of disconnection to those far away. Had a wonderful first Independence Day. The Playgirl Mansion held an impromptu pool party, and we splashed, played, BBQ'd and supped on Marguaritas. Played bartender and kept them coming for the gang... I love that when you want to chat about things here in the USA, an American will immediately engage in the conversation with enthusiasm. They have no qualms about holding forth on what it is to be an American, the principals pf their constitution, the current state of the nation and international relations. I think I'm lucky to have found a crew of like-minded inquisitive souls so those conversations are never too static, negative or lack-lustre. They often have different points of view - but are willing to discuss things,. It's the land of the debate after all. And then there's NPR. National Public Radio. This is my link to the world every morning and evening on the road. I listen in to the most fascinating stories, excellent satire, cutting edge comedians, great investigative journalism, diverse points of view, inclusive philosophy and entertaining shows on the very best radio station in the country. Love it. And these are a few of my weird and wonderful, most recent observations about America and the way of life here: You can't buy a nail brush for love or money. Maybe it's LA but they'd rather have a pedicure than reach down and scrub their own feet. I have resorted to buying a 'potato scrubbing brush'... and having pedicures too (when in Rome). Food-combining is an art form. Think Peanut Butter and 'Jelly' and take that into all meals and all food. I have seen peanut butter dolloped onto a pancake...oh my, oh my.... They'd rather use 'creamer' or half-n-half in their coffee than plain old milk. Creamer is an artificial white powder that creates a cloudy consistency in black coffee. Bizarre. Half-n-half is half milk/half cream. Yet in all other food situations, after lactose, fat is regarded as the number one enemy, so 'No-fat' milk exists, and 'no-fat' yoghurt - which is actually (if you look close enough on the label) tapioca pudding, and I'll be damned if I want tapioca pudding for breakfast when I asked and paid for yoghurt. I've handed out a few vegemite packs to take home and have on toast..that was entertaining, and they made me 'mac-n-cheese'. it's a cross-cultural learning experience every day! There is a definite rabid concern for appearances and a willingness to use anything artificial to achieve the appearance of health or aesthetics. Ads for tanning, botox, collagen, dermabrasion, lifts, tucks, anal bleaching(what tha!!), implants and an array of bizarre sorts of cosmetic surgery fill pages and pages of magazines and the Friday newspapers. The most bizarre ad' of the week is for a G-Spot injection which you can have done in 45 minutes (hey - in your lunch-hour) which supposedly improves your sexual drive gaLS - like sticking a needle in your twat is going to be anyway near a good-time!!!. It's all being pushed as 'normal' and the botox and collegen brigade are growing. The natural state of play for a human body to age is considered the enemy - to be eradicated...so we few are the exception rather than the rule. Just so don't think this is a US bashing session - there are positive aspects - The work ethic is strong. To fully engage in society is a very pro-active forward action. From the essential use of a social security number which is given at birth and they all memorize as you are asked all the time foe the last four digits at the bank, work and when buying things. The other is your zip (postcode). That is required so you can fill your car with fuel (or gas - as they call it). And the level of automation is amazing. There are drive-through banks - yes one can lodge a deposit and sign the form with the help of vacuum channels and air-tight cylinders. You can get drive through coffee, and even a church (for a quick drive-through prayer). 'Self-serving' check-outs, and bowsers at petrol stations all make the process of filling up and shopping a fast exercise in getting in-and-out without talking to a soul. Just remember your zip code please. The fact that I have decided to grow herbs and tomatoes makes me an anomoly here. 'Why grow when you can buy?'... but I still get a kick out of the simple things. Like going to the Oz-Song circle gigs and seeing brilliant talent from down-under in LA. Saw the amazing Kara Grainger, Andy Clockwise, Tyrone and Danielle Gahan this past week - A great night at The Mint - that happens each month. And I have movies launches coming up in the next few weeks. It's all out there if you look for it. And, as I get used to the helicopter fly-overs in the backyard while I lay in the pool under the palm trees, listening the cry of ambulance and fire appliance sirens heading for the 405 and some new accident, I think back to Australia. Australian life is simpler, less automated, cleaner, fresher, more natural, relaxed, and no doubt healthier. But I'm staying here for a while. It's fascinating! Plus opportunities abound and life has possibilities I couldn't conceive or find in my homeland - which is tragic really. Sure i'm living on a fault-line and no doubt in one of the target infidel cities, but what's worse - going out having tried or stagnation and a slower state of play - which is the Australian thing. Things happen fast here, and I find myself in the midst of exciting entertainment developments, and at the forefront of Web 2.0 advancement, which is fascinating stuff. Never thought I'd say that - but there you have it. I'm going corporate for a while, learning so much about business, and getting my life here on a steady track, heading up.... But don't think I've done the unthinkable and subsumed my Aussie vernacular. I am not a yankophile when it comes to accents or expressions. In fact I'm working a few phrases into the collective WDIG vernacular. An Executive who's nowhere to be found has 'gone walkabout', and a returnable object is a 'boomerang'..they'll get the hang of it. Baby steps first... And joy of joys!!! I've discovered the Disney emergency team and Fire Brigade - who would have thought that the Mouse had his own brigade on the Lot... I love it. More on that after I've done my training. next time - some exciting news soon about a music clip & travel pics going up imminently - plus news on how craigslist list saves the day again on the computer front... Hey check out the book I found in the artist Banksy - fan-bloody-tastic! Currently reading: Wall and Piece By Banksy Release date: 27 December, 2005

BABA R.I.P.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

This year is getting to be a doozie.... Baba, black furball love on my life, has died at the age of 16 years and 6 months. He passed away after a brief illness basically due to his old age. This puss has been with me since he hurled himself through the door of my flat in Surry Hills during a thunderstorm as a drenched, starving and dumped little black kitten. He traveled with me through a marriage up to Whale Beach and over the Balmain, Rozelle, Leichhardt. Then we went coastal to Tamarama, Bellevue Hill, onto North Bondi, and out to Watson's Bay before hot-footing it down the coast to Melbourne, then back to North Bondi before finally coming to rest at the Borger Hacienda on the Northshore of Port Macquarie where he spent the last three years of his life in relative confort and coastal country splendour. Sister Kate was with him in the end and Tony buried him out by the Blackboy plants at the Borger Hacienda. I so regret that I wasn't there - but that is my cross to bear...I left him and he died.... Baba was a wonderful companion, fiesty to the end and I adored the cantankerous beasty so much. He sauntered into my life and made sure everyone knew who was boss - the one and only black furball at their feet, or more likely on their lap or chewing on their ankle! He even traveled in the car well (all the way to Melbourne and back in the Monaro, then up the coast), plus I remember him walking on the beach - tail held high, strolling with Heidi the German Shepard through Annandale, hanging with the ducks and lounging with the Kangaroos at the Hacienda as no cat should...he was truly one of a kind. But now he's gone to push-cat heaven where the pats never end, the laps are always free, the dogs are chained far away and the kangaroo meat and fish diet always perfectly interspersed with lamb kidneys (that he so loved). I have lost my boy and one of the main reasons I had to bring me home to Australia...so for now I stay here in LA and remember my Tonto, my sidekick, my sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, but always wonderful Baba. To me he was purrrrfect............................ Currently listening: Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast) By Andrew Lloyd Webber Release date: 07 December, 1993