From the Stadium to the Sea

No I didn't run the LA Marathon (for those of you that don't know "From the Stadium to the Sea" was the theme of this year's marathon). But the theme seemed to fit my weekend, as it started in Downtown, moved to the Pier, and ended back around Hollywood. Everything those marathon runners saw, I saw, and I had the added luxury of four wheels and air conditioning.

Saturday morning started with a trip to FIDM with Lesley to see the Oscar nominated costume display. Some were breath taking, some were amazing, some made us a squeal, and some were from Aliens in the Attic.

Lesley and I were like kids in a candy store with the costumes from An Education, Where the Wild Things Are ("Do you know how many hipsters would kill to steal that outfit?"), A Single Man ("They have the furry sweater!"), Inglourious Basterds ("Inglourious Basterds!"), and Julie and Julia ("Meryl wore that!").



This picture was from the exhibit several years ago, but since it's Helen Mirren, and she plays an intricate part in this blog post, I'll allow.



After playing over on Vermont for a bit, Lesley and I went to Santa Monica. She had never been on the pier, so we hit that up first. Kettle Corn! Cotton Candy! Rides! It's like a carnival, but better, because it's on water. Lesley and I joked about the pier being destroyed by a giant wave (as in a Roland Emmerich movie) and low and behold, go kicked off the beach. Not because of our off color jokes, but because a suspicious package was found on the pier. Cops were everywhere. We were instructed to go past the lifeguard tower. Dear lifeguard, if the pier was to explode in a gigantic terrorist attack, I highly doubt being on the OTHER side of your lifeguard tower would make the slightest difference in my chances of survival.

So we went to a British foods store. A logical move right? It is when you're with Palf.

Palf and I parted ways and I was joined by Kristen, Julie and Jeff. A bottle of wine and batch of margaritas later, we hopped into a cab for Bar Lubitsch. After my rave review of it, they had been wanting to try it. We got in and it was PACKED. Have no fear though, we found ourselves a nice pocket of space and proceeded to hang out and drink through the night. Kristen, Julie and nights out (or in!) are a perfect storm. Doesn't matter where we are, doesn't matter that someone in the bar had B.O. (okay, it a little bit did), we have a good time. Saturday was no exception.

We stumbled down Santa Monica to Jones for a post-drinking pizza with Banner. We scarfed a pizza of our own and downed half of Rebecca's. Success? I think so.

Sunday was just as successful, if not COMPLETELY different. Megan came to visit!



Megan, my oldest friend (as in, since 2nd grade, not age 102), is the assistant to journalist Annie Bardach, who is quite possibly THE go-to journalist on all things Cuba. Annie is a member of the Moron Society (a group of free-thinking, intelligent people [journalists, writers, directors, actors, politicians]) who get together to elect morons in society and discuss current events.



On Sunday, there was a Moron Society meeting at Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford's house. They live around the corner from me! Their neighbor is none other than Roland Emmerich, of aforementioned pier discussion.

Megan and I were honorary Moronettes and handled parking at the Hackford/Mirren estate. Afterwards we were invited to listen in on the meeting, which was incredible. These people are such intelligent speakers.

Mirren, or as Hackford calls her, Helly, was a sweetheart. So nice. She gave me a stack of ham, a bottle of wine and a cheery pie because "I could afford such a thing."



I feel like I should have more to say about this event, but I guess it's all just sinking in. They're wonderful people and it was exciting to be a part of it. Will anything come of it professionally? Probably not - but you never know!

Marcus and Lesley: 2010's Answer to Statler and Waldorf

Statler: I like the movie fine so far.
Waldorf: It hasn't started yet.
Statler: That's what I like about it.

Like Statler and Waldorf of "The Muppet Show" fame, Lesley and I love nothing more than to go to movies together. We've already decided: She's Waldorf, I'm Statler.

Statler: We'd love to see your act.
Waldorf: But we'd hate to miss your act.
Statler: In fact, we'd love to hate your act!

Don't get me wrong, we love nothing more than loving a movie. In the past month or so, she and I saw "An Education," "A Single Man," "The Princess and The Frog," and "Avatar." Were there more than that? I don't remember. Besides the point. If I'm going to a movie, I want her by my side. Why? She puts up with my shtick. Not only that, she CHALLENGES my shtick.

Waldorf: There have been wars started over less then that
Statler: You're wrong. Nothing's less then that.

Watching a movie with me is like watching a movie with instant commentary. If I've got something to say, I'll say it.

Marcus: The ear placement on the Avatars makes them look like Sloth from "The Goonies"
Lesley: Hey You GUYYYYYYYYYS

And Lesley will say it right back.

Marcus: You'd think that after working on the movies for years, they would have spent at least one of those years working on the script.
Lesley: What script?

Make no mistake, we don't hate everything - we just enjoy hating almost as much as we enjoy loving. "An Education" we loved. We were messes, together throughout the entire movie. We were literally curled up in a ball in our seats- yelling at the main character for dumb things that she was doing. Like Statler and Waldorf, we talk to the characters. Unlike Statler and Waldorf, the characters don't talk back. "Avatar" not so much. But half the experience, was experiencing it with Lesley. Where some people would tell me to shut up, Lesley encourages that I keep going.

Statler: Wake up you old fool. You slept through the show.
Waldorf: Who's a fool? You watched it.

Lesley and I are like minded about a lot of things too, much like Statler and Waldorf. We both sunk in our chairs when the screen faded in "Avatar" and we realized we were only THEN starting act three. We both threw popcorn in exasperation at "A Single Man." We both "awwed" in a certain moment involving Evangeline in "The Princess and the Frog."

Waldorf: That seemed like something very different.
Statler: Did you like it?
Waldorf: No.
Statler: Than it wasn't different.

She's my kindred movie soul. And she's funny as hell. I advise you - do NOT go see a movie with us if you expect silence.

Statler: I guess all's well that ends well.
Waldorf: Doesn't matter to me, as long as it ends.

Also, we're thinking about starting a video blog of movie commentary. More on that later though.

The June Life Update

My blog is my homepage. I was dissappointed...is that how you spell that?... with myself every time I saw my last post was in May. So here we are: a June Post! And hopefully the next time you hear from me it won't be in July.

I finished working on "Ben and Burman." It went really well, and the people were lots of fun. I got thrown in as an extra, which is always a nice surprise. I wrestled the producer, who was also an extra, in a brawl scene. He was dressed like a farmer, and I was a cow. Absurd, I know.

I start working on "The Janitor" - The Wes Craven Project, soon. I'm prett pumped.

Other than that I've been working my life away at the Daily Grill. I do Curbside and Hosting. I like curbside so much better. I make tips too (which is always nice.)

Other than that, not much is going on. I miss SO many people that are roaming around for the summer, and kind of wish school was just in session already.

If anything eventful happens: I'll let you know.

And Lauren, I know I grossly missused punctuation and probably spelling as well. I'm ok with that.