Easter Weekend: Shreveport Whirlwind

Well this weekend was a 'three day weekend' here on 21 Jump Street so I traveled north to the Shreve for a friend/fam fix.

I went to a strip club for the first time (not counting the all-male one that I went to in New Orleans for Melissa's Bachelorette Party). So, needless to say, I didn't have to look very far for any Easter eggs. Eggs painted and stuffed with regret, that is. I learned what it means when rappers say things such as 'She make dat ass clap" as well as that most of them wipe down the pole before they mount it. All in all, a classy night.

The next day, I got to hang out with my fraand Sass:

We had a romantic date at my favorite place, Tacomania, followed by some patio time at my favorite porch: The Cub.

Saturday, I spent most of the days with these two terrors, I mean, angels as well as the rest of my fam:

Miller

Cooper

Saturday afternoon I spent time at the Oyster Bar and ran into these little gems:

Mark and I

Covilove and myself

Everyone go ahead and take note as to how great my tan (burn) lines look from French Quarter Festival. No, I wasn't wearing a stringy top, I was simply wearing a necklace when I received that deep V mark. This, is why I don't go outside.

Saturday nightt there was a party, in my honor, at the Crawford Mansion Patio. Here are some highlights.

Ambiance

My new best friend Sarah Thomas and Benjamin - the pride of South Highlands.

Now back in New Orleans. We began filming today meaning, free lunches have began. Lobster tail on the first day! So happy here!

LENT UPDATE!

Well, since I gave up everything that is considered Holy and Righteous (see post below) for Lent, I've pretty much eaten nothing but lettuce and salmon for the past two weeks. (Well, except that time that I went to Joey and Megan's Fiesta Wedding Shower and of course it was Build Your Own Burrito day and I ate one and a half. Oops.. I felt really bad about it and purged when I got home. Ok not really, but I did feel bad... convicted would be the proper term/feeling.) Anyway, since I've only eaten sprigs of grass, I feel like I've lost a pound or two. Feel free to compliment me on such the next time you see me.

Anyway. Life has been busy lately. I just found out that I will be coordinating two films coming up. One starting now and the other starting at the end of the month so if you wanted to get any face time in with me before September, now's the time to start booking my free time with fun activities.

Since I won't be doing anything other than being holed up in this office 'til fall, I've decided to arrange a goal if you will, to look forward to. I've decided to take this one...:


...on a trip to NYC! I asked her where in the world does she want to go on a trip. She answered NYC (even though we've already been there AND even though I STRONGLY URGED HER to choose Paris, she wanted New York. She says that Paris would be too expensive b/c that is where the original Louis Vuitton store is and she knows she'd spend a fortune in there. I say, you live once and you're going to be too old and senile by the time we can 'afford' to go to Paris, but whatever...off soapbox (also she wants John to take me there on our honeymoon. Ha! WE AREN'T EVEN ENGAGED!!!)), so off we go to NYC! (I know, I'm the best daughter ever...) So, I've contacted my travel agent and planning is in the works. I've always wanted to do something special for Sue and I feel like this will be a nice way of rewarding her for being a great mom (also, to get her out of the house before her Alzheimer's/dimensia settles in for good).

SEND ME BACK, RIGHT NOW!

Let's just be honest with each other, here. Send me back to Sundance already, because that crap was freaking AWESOME! I was super nervous about my travel companions because who knows what sort of freaky habits come out with people you semi-know. Nothing weird at all. I bunked with The Bish and there were no problems there (unless you count my snoring, which hopefully she didn't hear, but I'm quite confident that she did... oh well).

I saw some celebs. One would include CHUY!!! He was the only one that I was really excited about. I mean after seeing him, who needs Simon Rex, Philip Seymour Hoffman, or Renee Zellweger. Talk about D list.

I'm back to booking extras this week for a low budgie called 'Six Month Rule'. Directed by the same dude that did 'Weather Girl', if you happened to catch that one. It was pretty cute, I guess.

Well, I hope you all didn't miss me too much... xoxo

Things That Are Ridiculous, Part 4,291

Two Words: Heidi Montag


Summary: Gross. Not long until she looks like that crazy cat lady, or worse... Joan Rivers or EVEN WORSE, Priscilla Presley (I say that with the utmost respect, Pri).

On another note, I leave in a week for Sundance. I have purchased warm boots, warm gloves, and long johns. I need to borrow a fuzzy hat with ear flaps from Sass, but other than that, I am set. Word.

Super

I started working last week on a new project called Super.The show stars these actors whose identities will be protected as per the Confidentiality Agreement that I signed:


Today was the first day of Principal Photography and oh my God I almost froze my yams off out there and I'm not joking. When I got back in my car, my legs/feet were numb. Never again. I thought I'd be nice and helpful and go out there to set and kind of spy on the situation for the first day, all along appearing eager, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Also to answer any questions and whatnot. Never again. I'm signing people in and leaving.

So anyway, when I said that I went back to the car and thawed... this is the car that I went back to:


This is Polly and she is my new Prius. (Gladpys was struck back in October by a raging maniacal teenager and totaled, God rest her soul. She was a good car and she would still be kicking it amongst the SB if it weren't for that hair-lipped idiot. Sigh. Not that I don't LOVE Polly. It's just that I don't LOVE that car payment every month. But, she is environmentally friendly and I have also convinced myself that I am now way better than most people, thus tying into the Smug stereotype of fellow Prius-owners.) Hopefully she does me right.

Now, back to casting strippers and chickenhawks...

My Day at the Unopened Fair Zoo

We had to go to the Fairgrounds yesterday to wrap out our Art Department, whose offices are set up there. As we are slaving away toting Music Mountain water bottles all over the place, I notice something staring at me:

GEOFFREY! Oh I love zoo animals! There were also camels! With TWO HUMPS!

It wasn't easy, but I managed to get all four camel toes in one picture. There was also a swine... well two swine. That other one is David, my coworker:

These guys were hanging out in preparation for the State Fair that starts this weekend I think. There were also llamas, zebras, mini-horses, a giant sea turtle, monkeys and some bird named Lucy. Pretty cool. I was just excited that the giraffes were friendly and precious. Happy Tuesday!

Highlight of My Day

So, got to stand very near to Two Face today. Although I didn't get the photo of myself kissing him on the cheek that I would have liked, I did manage to sneak this while he watched playback at the Video Village:

I decided to make a photo montage of a gas station explosion that I got to witness this morning. The show was blowing up the run-down gas station at the corner of Texas and Linwood in Shreveport. It was doused with 160 gallons of diesel fuel then lit on fire. Here we go:

Before:

A, what they call, 'picture car':

Actual explosion:

Smoke and stuff:

An after shot (note the 'dead' body):

That was the zenith of the day. The 'Battle' leaves town tomorrow to head to Baton Rouge until Christmas. I'll be moving on to bigger and (hopefully) brighter things.

Halle It Is

Thanks for voting, Halle is the new name of the Berry.

Let's see, what's new? I went to the Revel this weekend. I bought a bunch of artwork as gifts and then a few things for my personal repertoire. (I made the mistake of wearing flip flops in the rain and therefore my feet turned out like so:

However, I got some of this:

So I'm okay with the dirty feet sacrifice. They (my feet) are all clean now, DON'T JUDGE ME. WE'VE ALL MADE THESE MISTAKES BEFORE!!!!!!!!!)

Um, I'm about to wrap up this movie that I've been working on so diligently (and I fervently apologize for being so blog-neglectful) so, hopefully I can get a couple of days off before I start working elsewhere. I think I'm going to pick up a part-time gig in an interiors place until the next show starts... now doesn't that sound fun?!

I have a wedding coming up next month for my friend LJ and am going to be required to get some sort of dressy situation for the rehearsal dinner. Being that I am a fair-skinned redhead, there are only a few colors that I can wear. So, that being said, this week's poll is going to be pretty lame, but what color dress should I attempt to find? Keep in mind that I usually stick to a 4 color wardrobe palette being black, brown, red and green, yet I am okay with overstepping this boundary and going in another shade of those families, with the exception of yellow, pink and lavender.

Things I Do When I Should Be Working

I rolled up to my bank last week to deposit some funds and reached for the tube and this is what I got:

Way to get festive with it, Regions. Any way that a financial institution can throw some hot pink into my banking gets a gold star from me.

Well, this week I'm working a 6th day. For those of you who don't know what that means, I have to work six days in a row this week. And next week. Kate is not happy.

So, my goal is to pump as much free stuff out of this as possible. Step 1: Get headlight replaced by Teamsters on set:

It only took 5 of them and 45 minutes to figure it out. Also, I got a free tank of gas whilst I was here. Step 2 is a new inspection sticker, thus why I had to get the headlight changed. We will see how that goes. Step 3 is going to be either a free haircut or free clothes from wardrobe.

I severely apologize for the lack of updates, but it's hard to steal away 5 minutes to collect my thoughts. However, working on Saturdays has remedied this, since not a lot goes on and also the crew is working nights and I'm working days. So thank God that they are all asleep and not around to bother me...yet.

Self-Explanatory Blog Title:

Well, I've officially reached the zenith of my life. Britney was this weekend and man was it the best thing EVER. No really, ever.

Check out the red spandex pants. Love it!!! I peed my pants a little at this point...seriously.

The magic umbrella!

Crotch shot!

I could kick like that in high school. About 50 pounds ago.... I miss her already.

Finally, 5 Minutes to Blog!

Life has been crazy lately. My work week has shifted from Monday - Friday to Tuesday - Saturday. It is harder than you think to pretend that Sundays are Saturdays, but I am trying my hardest.

The only semi-entertaining photo that I've manage to snap lately is from the parking lot of Target:

Although it may be hard to tell from such a photo, that is INDEED blue glitter paint. Ah, Shreveport never seems to fail me as far as rendering me speechless.

Well, this weekend is the Britney concert. I have managed to swap shifts with a girl at work in order to guarantee that I am outta here in time to get showered and slip into my red spandex onesie for the concert. I cannot wait!!! Carie and Julie, you girls had better start rehearsing your Britney lyrics, because I am going to know them all! Woot!

In other news, I may or may not have shared this information, but I am going to be an uncle again since my brother and sis in law are having a baby boy. Cooper Keithy. What an angel. Okay... off to run more errands... AND to watch the Big Brother finale!

Madness

Since the last time I blogged, I have been crazy busy. By crazy busy I mean that I've been running around so much with errands and sweating my yams off on set and back and forth and what not, that I've even lost 5 lbs... maybe 6 (I'm going by clothes size, not by scale since I don't have one... Woot for Skinny Bridesmaid). I've finally gotten the 10 minutes that I need to write a blog, even though I have no direction, I just basically wanted to write and say that I'm not dead (since I KNOW you were all wondering).

Friday, I got these from my bosses:

On the card it said that I am underappreciated (amen) for all the work that I do. How sweet! I accidentally left them on my desk over the weekend (after I bolted to the door to get out of here and over to the Stray Cat) so this is them in their wilted state, which is still pretty good. Also, its a crappy pic because I was trying to be all nonchalant in the office with it.

Oh yeah. So, the same celebrity that requested the carseat was a MAJOR C.U. Next Tuesday to me today on set and I wanted to knock her tooth out like Carrie did on SATC when 'said actress' was chasing Carrie down the stairs and then fell after she caught Carrie in Big's apartment. (That sounded more confusing than I think it really was.) Anyway...Ugh... made me so mad. Enough of my huffing and puffing, I suppose. I'm going to update the Poll of the Week soon so take it and have a wonderful day after the holiday!

Evidence From This Weekend

This weekend I attended the Kickoff Party for the show that I'm working on. Here is some evidence that I stole from friends of mine that I had a good time. First of all, there is a celebrity whom is about to walk past Meredith and I in this first photo (yes, the same celebrity whom I purchased the carseat for):

(Photo courtesy of Mark Crawford)

Mark also stole a photo of the lady providing the entertainment. She likes to spin the records while she isn't filming stuff:

(Photo Courtesy Mark Crawford)

Here is actual evidence that I was having fun at this party, in case the other two photos didn't suffice:

(Photo Courtesy Nicole LaBranche)

I didn't actually take any photos of my own because apparently I was too busy dancing with the Deputy Mayor of Shreveport, himself... I.E. Charles Rapp. Judging by this photo, we were doing a lyric/dance off, based only on my hand motions as well as his.

Well I had a ton of fun at this party and feel a little awkward around my co-workers today, but as the day progressed, I managed to get over it, thus, reminding me why I try at all costs to avoid Kick-Off/Wrap Parties.

Flashback Tuesday

While I was trying to type Flashback Tuesday, I accidentally typed Flaskback Tuesday... which is probably a better idea that the former as far as this new job is going. I work probably around 14 hours a day and am so tired when I get home that if I did have a flask at work, it would be well used. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my job, but sometimes it's hard to stay enthusiastic and positive about working such long hours.

Anyway... so this weekend John and I had Sunday brunch at a local place right around the corner from his house called Columbia Cafe. I'm not sure what makes them so proud of their menu that they think that they should charge $8.99 for a chicken salad sandwich (for that record, why do people pay $10 for Fairfield's chicken salad sandwich, when the SHRIMP salad sandwich is only $7.99. These people are robbing us blind!!!!!! And the service is pretty crappy too!!!) Anyway, so John and I ate brunch at Columbia and on our way out we spied this:

View from Left Side:

View From Right Side

I was SO excited! I've never (okay maybe once) seen a scooter/motorcycle with a sidecar. And we get done with our overpriced food and there one is, practically calling us to take a photo of it. So there's your Flashback Tuesday blast from the past. Have a wonderful week!

Wordless Weekend Wrap Up

Frozen Drink Friday

I just picked these little babies up for the office's Frozen Drink Friday policy. I was given the privilege of choosing the flavors. Instead of going with the Monkey Shine and Liquid Cocaine, I decided to play it conservatively with Margarita and Hurricane:

Also there was a line out the door. At 5:30. I mean, why wouldn't there be? It's buy one get one free from 4-7 at Daiquiri Express. Happy Weekend!

Surprises on Girl's Night

Last night I went to meet Carie, Melissa and Bevin for a nightcap at the Christian Union Building. Boy, was I in for a treat! I was chatting with Melissa about this lady who has a Massage Therapy and Pain Management Mobile Massage business and how one of her packages includes a 'Lypossage' which is a cellulite remover (or so she claims. If you want this lady's number, message me.) As I was imagining how awkward it would be for someone to rub my thighs and ass for an hour, this precious soul appeared on a stool next to me:

Ladies and gents, may I introduce Mrs. Diana Hunter (go read her blog here: http://dianaorienyc.blogspot.com/ ). I met Diana two years ago through our mutual friend Mrs. Carie Hart. Diana and I share a passion for two of the same things: wine and cheese. And by cheese, I mean all types of cheese (brie, gouda, blue, cheddar, feta, goat, swiss... I could go on forever.) So, as you can see, I was very excited to see her! What a surprise! Diana moved to New York with her new husband right after they got married, so I hadn't seen her since Carie's wedding (December 2007). (Now that I think about it, I might have seen her once since then, but I could be hungover.)

She shared stories about New York and how it's different from Louisiana and etc. etc. Most importantly she claims that she rode the same bus as Charlotte (Kristen Davis). What I want to know, is why the crap is Kristen Davis riding a city bus (reminding me of the episode where Carrie has to ride the bus when she's trying to save money to buy back her apartment from Aiden after they broke up. So she had to make 'lifestyle changes' in order to conserve money. At the bus stop she realizes that her SATC Column is being advertised on the side of the bus and a random lady asks her: "Why do you have to take the bus? You're on the bus!")? So yeah, I know we're in a recession, but seriously, why didn't she invest her money more wisely? Charlotte York McDougal Goldenblatt would never take a city bus. Perhaps Kristen is trying to separate herself from the 'Charlotte' image, but I can think of a lot better ways to do that... like coming out with a sex tape or become involved in a heroin drug ring.

Anyway, it is always so good to catch up with people... especially people who are real, honest, nice people. It is one of the things that I love the most. Just hearing all the great things that people are doing with their lives and how happy they are... it's just a favorite thing of mine.

(PS: Who else jumped up and down with excitement last night, when Jeff put up Natalie and Jessie? Because I sure did. I freaking love Jeff.)

Portrait of a Britney Fan

So far this week I have been LOVING (with emphasized capital letters) my new job. Like, literally, everything about it, but most of all I LOVE my co-workers. I've only had the pleasure to work with three so far, but trust me that is plenty for me. David, Jessica and Charles are their names and between the 4 of us, we have plenty of interesting Hollywood stories to share. We sit with our desks facing each other and exchange witty banter all day about actors, directors, producers, famous people, each other, other co-workers, etc. It's the greatest laid back job ever.

Jessica even was nice enough to draw a portrait of me:

If you can't read the shirt, it says #1 Britney Fan (because I have expressed how pumped I am about the concert). I am greatful to Jessica for making me so skinny and also for including my new sunglasses.

So, I am not excited about the rest of the crew getting here soon, starting this afternoon. Large groups make me EXTREMELY nervous, especially when these 'higher ups' get really picky and specific in their requests. However, coming with the large group, comes the large gossip! I cannot wait for there to be a really good celebrity story to share. But don't you worry, readers, as soon as I get good scoop, I am definitely sharing. I will have to change names, or perhaps make them 'Blind Items' since I signed a Confidentiality Agreement, but seriously, you will know it first.

PS. A teaser Blind Item to conclude your Thursday: What hip hop star (with a current hit song) has requested a 'Phat Pad' on the outskirts of town for himself and his entourage of 15 to stay in while filming?