A question....

If a breathalyzer is given to you as a Christmas gift, is it a huge wake-up call or a very thoughtful gift?

My Cheapness almost killed someone

I just finished both a cardio session and followed with a 90 minute power yoga class so my brain is a little fried. The parking lot across the street from the studio offers 2 hours free parking. I was minutes away from that expiring and having to pay $1. (I'm unemployed, every dollar counts. Trust me it sucks.) So what did I do?!? I did what any cheap bastard would, pulled out of my parking spot like I was about to pay $1000 instead of a measly $1. I did look back, I didn't see any cars or people so I went. But then I get a knock on my passenger side window that scares the namaste out of me. There stood a girl with a big smile on her face and a yoga mat in her hand. She says, through smile, "you almost ran me over!" Of course I apologize at my stupidity but she laughs and says it's no problem!!! NO PROBLEM?! I would have been pissed. But she had just came from the same class as me and she was probably feeling good and fried as well. Anyway, I made my way to pay and of course I didn't make the 2 hour cut off. But my cheap self didn't care anymore, I almost killed the poor girl! So I pay with a 10 and after pulling away I count my change, 8 ones. 8 ONES!!! The cashier was $1 short.....my cheap self came right back.

Things to do when you're unemployed

Look for a job

Clean every corner of house

Reorganize every closet and shelf space

Donate old clothes to Goodwill

Paint a piece of furniture

Go to the beach

Surf

Fuss over the fact that your landlord sucks

Watch every episode of Seinfeld for the 437th time in your life

Teach pilates

Look for a job

Watch the same movies on HBO

Watch shows you never thought you would waste your time on

(I'm watching TV, instead of working in TV, sad)

Clean fridge

Organize bills

Organize receipts

Wax bikini

Read

Go see great documentaries like the cove and food, inc.

Visit with friends

Visit family

Hang with friends at a swank West Hollywood hotel pool

Drink wine

Drink vodak

Drink and Promote MonaVie (I'm a distributor, I'll hook you up with the good stuff)

Look for a job

Not spend money

Go to opening day at the Del Mar race track

Make belt buckles with my boyfriends photography

Go on facebook

Read erinire's blog

Yoga, Yoga, Yoga

Look up exotic places to travel

Learn Spanish with Rosetta Stone

Take pictures

Clean freezer

Check out perezhilton.com i know, i know it's terrible

Do-it-yourself mani/pedi

Shampoo carpets

Do a hair mask, this stuff is the shit!

Do a MonaVie face mask, that's right you can drink it and use it on your skin, oh yea!

Create a blog

Update blog

tell people to read blog

I must be putting some sort of vibe out there cause as I was typing this list, I got a call for work

It never ceases to amaze me

I have been a member of the YMCA for about 4 years now. I have many stories about the colorful array of fellow members and their strange workout habits. But its amazing to me that these same people can, day and day out, do the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I kind of envy them. I just get bored of doing the same thing repeatedly. I usually do cardio till I'm bleeding from the eyes and then I burn out and never want to do it again. This was the case yesterday.

I literally haven't been to the gym for about 2 months, I have been nursing a healthy addiction to power yoga. But I've been missing cardio. So yesterday was my first day back and nothing has changed. A few of the same YMCA all-stars were there....the 65 year old, short, stocky, balding man with an enormous gut that he shows off like a trophy while walking on the treadmill. Seriously it's disturbing to look at. He hikes his shirt up it rests between his titties and stomach. (On a side note... I'll never understand "walking on the treadmill". Power walking and running, OK, it's easier than doing it on the beach or pavement. I also understand if you've been injured and are walking for rehabilitation or physical therapy. But walking, walking is lame if you're casually doing it and calling it cardio, it's not even close. you're inside. walking. woah, exhilarating. I think you got your heart rate up to about the speed of a mushroom.) I understand that this man probably can't run, and at least he's moving. But getting some fresh air never hurt anyone. Christ, he could give his gut some healthy sun and show it off to the bikini bitches at the beach! But, instead, I have to suffer through it.

Next we have the woman who wears a pink shower cap and *FULL* wet suit in the *heated* indoor pool. Need I say more?

And finally, the award for best performer at the YMCA goes to.....the woman on the elliptical who looks like a frog having a 35-mile an hour, epileptic fit. She's in great shape though. She just looks ridiculous in the process.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many others, but who am I to judge when just over a year ago I went sailing off a treadmill onto my back in front of a full room of people?

that's a story for another day.....

how to waste time doing nothing....

I know there are a lot of *us* out there. People skilled in a craft, that they may or may not love, but something that they were once paid for. I am an Out of Work Camera Assistant in glamorous Hollywood. I put the "Out of Work" part in capitals because I feel that it is now apart of my whole job title. I have only worked 1 day in the last 4 months. It's hard when I was coming from a place where I was dividing my time between 4 network TV shows. Now my biggest concern is rationing out my to do list so that I will have enough errands to fill my week. But also rationing out my funds to complete said errands.

They say that Hollywood thrives in times like these because people are spending less to entertain themselves. So they stay home to watch TV or pay $12 to see a movie. HA! The only people thriving in these times are the Above the Line producers, directors, actors, etc.

It's sad. Sad when every corner of the house is in order and I'm looking for other things to clean, organize, or donate to goodwill. Sad when all I do is sit on facebook when I was the person, 8 months ago, that used to make fun the people who felt it necessary to let everyone know what they were doing every 15 minutes. Now I'm checking every 15 minutes.

I will say that being unemployed has helped me figure out some positive things about myself though. I now know that I *NEVER* want to be a stay at home mom, a house wife, or anything of the sort. I couldn't stand the monotony of it all. I'm not putting down those who do stay at home, I actually think making that choice is great. I nannied for a number of years and families and I understand the role of the stay-at-home parent. It's hard work that's not for me. I would and do feel like a prisoner in my own house.

Another positive aspect is that I am healthy and fit. Working 12+ hour days in Hollywood doesn't allow for enough time or physical energy to keep a steady fitness routine. During the Writer's strike I realized that I needed to be prepared to have a back up job incase there was another strike. I wanted to choose something that was healthy for my body and my wallet. Last summer I became certified as a Pilates instructor for just such an incident. And it worked for a while. But with the economy being crap, I lost most of my paid clients. Now I am mostly training with a few friends for free. But, keeping my body moving is payment enough. I recently added Yoga to my routine and I feel great. Along with healthy food that I am taking the time to prepare and I have the recipe for a pretty svelte figure.

So being unemployed isn't always bad, just a little boring at times. I fill my days up as much as I can and hope that this will be the last time I'm in this situation. However, I am looking for a part-time job, if anyone is asking.....now off to the gym I go!