Another Hollywood experience...reality tv & me

I just got back from a taping of the reality show, "Rock Star Supernova" (http://www.cbs.com/primetime/rock_star2/) on cbs, held at the cbs studios in Hollywood. A friend's boyfriend who is a producer on the Amazing Race got us free tickets and even though I haven't watched the show this year (watched a few episodes last year when people were auditioning for INXS), I thought it would be fun. It's a reality show in which people audition and sing to win the spot as lead singer of a band-in this case, a band made up of famous rockers who also serve as the judges-like a "rock" American idol. The band includes Tommy Lee from Motley Crue (and former hubby of Pamela Anderson), Jason Newstead (Metallica), and Gilby Clarke (Guns N Roses) and with hosts Dave Navarro (yup, Carmen Electra's squeeze or former squeeze) and Brooke Burke. We waited outside for a while then filed in-unfortunately they didn't allow cameras or cell phones so I don't have any photos to show but you can tune in this Tuesday night either at 8 or 9pm depending on your tv guide and watch the show and look for me in the crowd. We got a better view by standing up in the balcony and not on the floor so make sure you look for me in the center of the balcony just opposite the stage and just above the judges (ie Tommy Lee, etc) ! I am wearing my glasses!
The stage itself looked like a nightclub-the house band was on the stage with lots of different lights and strobe lights, then an area off to the side with cushions, etc for the rock contestants and then just below me-about 10 ft, was a couch for the judges-Tommy, Dave, etc. There were big curtains up and the place looked gothic. We waited for about an hour and a half for the show to start and meanwhile the stage manager gave us directions-when to laugh, clap, and a guy worked the crowd into a frenzy. Although I am not a huge music idol, it was fun to see these guys in person although Tommy Lee doesn't wear underwear and his pants hang low so those of us on the balcony got a continual close up view of his bare ass (but tan). He has a ton of tatoos too and was drinking alcohol. Dave Navarro looks just like he does no tv although skinnier and shorter than I thought. Each contestant performed a song-sometimes with a guitar, there was some great songs done-some hard rock, and then the judges would give their say and be right on target. Of course, there was a alot of raunchiness that will get edited out of the tv broadcast-at one point Tommy asked the singer if she enjoyed grinding up against the guitarist, also there were several references to ball licking made between a singer and Dave Navarro. There was a lot of energy to the crowd and the performers, the funniest thing was when the show went to commercial break and they had to redo a shot-so the performers would have to mock a previous shot. I will definitely tune in now to the show since I got into it.

I saw a bunch of movies this weekend with friends-incl My Super Ex-Girlfriend with Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson (terrible) and Devil Wears Prada (excellent). We even went to a chocolate store Leonidas (Belgian) which I had always thought about going into but felt it was too fancy for me-well you can go in no problem and be cheap and just pick out a few choice morsels.
I also have been working out alot more-I am switching from Bally's to 24 hour fitness which is a short walk from me and has much more equipment, is cleaner, and just is a nicer gym.
The work week sucked-still trying to troubleshoot technical issues but at least I had a nice weekend.

I just started reading a new book -The Boy Who Fell Out of the Sky-written by the brother of a guy who died on the Pan Am flight which blew up over Scotland in 1988 and the brother tries to make sense of his older brother's life and aspirations to be a writer. It's good but intense.

Julie

Post-Vacation & Back to Reality

Well, it's been over a month since my last post and my vacation is over and done although after my hellish experimental week (when all hot plates were broken, something contaminated my Western blot and it probably ruined 3 weeks of work), I am ready to go away again. I am currently at work trying to salvage something so not a fun weekend although tomorrow I will go to this great dumpling place with my labmates, and last night my neighbor and I grilled some hot dogs, had some wine, and enjoyed the night air. I am trying to keep work in perspective and remember the months and months of failed ephys experiments in grad school although as a postdoc, I feel like I have less luxury or time for things not to work as I urgently need to get a paper out in the next few months.
The first day back from vacation sucked-especially as I got in that night to find that my landlord had raised my rent by 50 bucks a month-so from 1250 to 1302 and although I tried to negotiate, he wouldn't hear it and lots of stuff in my house needs fixing but unlike the nice landlords in Tucson, in LA, they don't give a crap. Still, I love my place and the area so won't move. My brother has generously offered to pay off the rest of my Stafford loan, a few thousand bucks, so that will take the pressure off somewhat or at least balance the rent increase. I did have a nice first weekend back to myself-- enjoying my solitude-went for a bike ride down to the beach, rented alot of DVDS (Alias), exercised, got a ton of groceries, etc.

Now to my trip recap and to view my photos, just click the following link and click on the photo album:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=s1ndvt3.7whusblr&x=0&y=-91uvcp

I was in Arizona for a few days before flying to the ecoast so caught up with alot of people, students, professors, etc it was a whirlwind tour. Then, I flew to Boston, stayed with my college friend for two nights, even went to Wellesley for the day. It is still as beautiful as I remember it, although it is hard to remember that I went there, it seems so long ago. There's a fancy new student center but it is on the far side of campus so of course the science people complain about the walk. I definitely would like to consider applying for faculty jobs there at some point in the future although I am still unsure about whether I want to be at a college or university-there are pluses and minuses about each, at a college I wouldn't have grad students, and probably I wouldn't have collegues working on the same research area whereas at a university it would be a larger group of diverse people, but at the same time, it could be great to just mentor undergrads, at the start of their careers. UCLA undergrads are much more gung-ho than Arizona undergrads although they all want to go to med school so some of them just work in labs to build their resume or not have the excitement or motivation to do research (I remember in college being excited to work all sorts of hours on my project).
Okay, I digress, so I saw a bunch of my old profs, then went back into Boston and ended up with some free time so I went to Quincy Market, browsed around, I forgot how much I like Boston and NYC for that matter. After being in Boston for two days, I hopped a bus to NYC, got in, stayed with a college friend in Brooklyn, met up with a high school friend for dinner, and just enjoyed the city, no, I didn't get to the upper west side this time or to Zabar's, my favorite store in NYC. That weekend I took the train out to long island to see all of my cousins on my dad's side-it was a blast, of course we ate a ton, saw all of my little cousins who had grown up, it reminded me of how much I miss seeing everyone living out west all of these years. After Long Island, I went to Albany and visited with my dad and stepmom, that was pretty relaxing-I did what I tend to do when I am home, read my old childhood books (Louisa May Alcott, Madeleine L'Engle) and sleep to no end. I also managed to eat healthy and exercise at my dad's racquet club a few times a week, we tried to play tennis but we both kinda sucked-it was also weird playing tennis at my old high school, also saw some close high school friends, hung out, caught up, it was very relaxing although I was eager to get back to my own digs. I also went up to the Lake Placid region to visit friends and waterskied for the first time ever. I had always wanted to do it but never had the opportunity-it is definitely harder than it looks-putting on the skis, coordinating my legs, I managed to stand up for a few seconds, most of the time I lost my balance but I would definitely do it again. It was so relaxing up there-slept well, ate well (salmon, corn), went swimming in the lake, came back to Albany then back for one day in Tucson to get over jet lag and gear up for my drive back to LA. It did feel like I was gone for a long time-2 weeks plus-but definitely needed-I had a complete mental break from work and had a chance to see people -although I was sorry not to be able to see everyone. I don't know when I will be able to take vacation again-probably not for another year do to finances and work.


Stay tuned for more blogs...
Julie