Age doesn't matter...now

This is a picture of R from 1994, at a Green Day album release show. His is the red headed, plaid bedecked figure in the front row. During this time, he was attending junior college, working part time, one year from marrying his first wife, two years away from his first child.



I also loved this album, and listened to it extensively when it came out. I listened to it while doing my homework...my 6th grade social studies homework.

Just one of the many time stamps that show our 10 year age difference. Good thing we were 2,000 miles apart until we were ready for each other.

Unintentional slam from R's son...

Jacob (age 7): You're 26?

Me: Yes.

Jacob: Oh.

Me: And in October, I'll be 27.

Jacob: Oh...I wonder if you'll grow more.


And then we all burst out laughing. Yay for being 5' 2" !!

Celebrity Sighting #3.5

Remember this guy?


I saw him AGAIN today, while I was driving to work. That's twice in one week.

Randomly running into actors I admire...yeah, I could get used to that.

Away We Go

Alternate title: Celebrity Sighting #3...and 4,5,6,7 and 8

R and I went to this thing


The film itself was great. Afterward the writers, director, and some of the actors came in and had a discussion panel, which was also lots of fun.

R and I also went to the after party. It was a VIP event, but I feel like an idiot saying that. LA has this whole VIP thing down to a science. I was a bit nervous about it. I kept wondering: Am I too dressed up/underdressed? Do I look like I fit here? When should we get there? How long do we stay? Do I eat the food? (nope, not vegetarian) Do I chat up the people I don't know who are probably important people even though I don't recognize them? (nope, tried that with one girl and her incessant name-dropping left me cold) That part of the process was very tiring.

I was on a mission to get my copy of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius signed, and hopefully snap a picture with John Krasinski. R was on a mission for tacos and whiskey.

After R had accomplished the taco part of the mission, I strategically seated us on a u-shaped couch about 10 feet away from Dave Eggers. Once the people he was speaking with left, I saw my chance and took it. He is such a nice guy, and even chatted with me for a minute about teaching. Surprisingly, I was not nervous while talking to him. Once we were done talking I sat down and tried to look normal, hip even, and not paw through my book to read what he had just written, like a 7th grader with a newly signed yearbook.

R went to achieve the whiskey portion of his quest. Maker's Mark in hand, there was only one more person to look for.

Watching John Krasinski move in a room was like watching a queen bee move through the hive. All were aware of his position, and when he moved even 2 feet, the whole room would shift, buzz and resettle almost unconsciously. Everyone was trying not to look at him. We were all looking at him. He told stories, leaned casually, threw his head back and laughed, perfectly at ease, magnetic and charming. We stood near him, waiting for the inner circle to slowly disperse and leave room for us. Just as I was in the clear, he shifted again to sign something, and the room swirled in lockstep, leaving me three people away again. To borrow from my favorite author (the one who just signed my copy of his book):

"Hands reach toward him, grasping for his flesh, and he reaches into the anemone of fingers...close will not do here, chance is not good enough..."

And he turned and looked at me expectantly. Hands were shaken, smiles exchanged. I leaned in to compliment him, ask for a picture. He obliged, and was nice as hell about it too.

"I feel the jolt through me because we have completed the moment."


He asked if the picture turned out, smiled and said "nice to meet you", and then turned to the next crowd of people, his last before leaving for the night. The swarm broke up. R grabbed 15 mini tacos, and we headed for the car.

Also there: Sam Mendes, Catherine O'Hara, Vendela Vida, Maya Rudolph, and I'm sure a metric ton of execs, writers, and important people who I'm too lame to recognize. Lame or not, I had a great evening.

Farewell, Princess Hollywood

The sad truth about this city is that not everyone who arrives here gets to stay. I was reminded of this last night, overhearing (hard not to, she was sitting outside 10 feet from my window) Princess Hollywood's story of woe. Acting = didn't take off. Side job = didn't work out. Unemployment = almost gone. It was very hard to hear about her packing things, shipping things, and retreating on her last dime back to her hometown. I hope my story never turns to that.

While things like this do happen, I have the utmost respect for Princess Hollywood (even as I mock her), because she took a risk. When I left MI, several people confided to me that they had always wanted to do what I did; to Pack Up and Ship Out and Make It Big In the Big City. When I asked why they never did exactly that, the response was always the same: fear. Fear of not knowing anyone, of new things and people, fear of The Big City Itself, etc. In fact, one of my colleagues who knew I was leaving my job as early as January, didn't fully believe me until April when I officially resigned for the coming school year.

Me: Well, I did it.

Other teacher: did what?

Me: I told the principal I'm not coming back next year.

O.T. : Oh. Oh wow.

Me: Yup.

O.T. So you're like...actually going. Wow.

Me: I said I was.

O.T. Yeah, but I didn't think you'd really DO it, Becky.

So for all the people out there who didn't do it: You should. If you really want to do it, then make it happen. Find that job. Move that family. Set up your life in your own personal paradise, and if it doesn't work, then at least you'll know you tried.

Princess Hollywood, I'll wave at the sign for you the next time I'm driving by.