Thanksgiving in L.A.

It occurred to me today that holidays can be very lonely in L.A. . . . if you let them. My Thanksgiving was spent by myself. But it was glorious. I slept in, went for a good run (in shorts and a tank-top no less), went to Blockbuster and was in bed by 9:00 p.m. (on a side note, I've decided that being awake is highly overrated).

It could have been a very lonely day. But it wasn't. I think one has to realize one's own survival skills when it comes to celebrating holidays alone.

Well, Christmas might be a different story . . . but then I will be in MN so I won't have to worry about that. Yet.

Not My Kind of Drama, Mama.

I am tired. It's been a long run of the play, and the after-glow wasn't exactly what I expected . . . or enjoyed. We ended our 5 week run this past Sunday with a double performance on Sunday (matinee at 3:00; evening performance at 7:00) followed by striking the set. Amidst drama that eventually involved calling the police. There was a lot of yelling and screaming, and some physical altercation. At one point I wanted to crawl into a corner and hide. Yup, not used to confrontation!

Then there was the 17-page long "explanation" by the person causing the drama. Which confused me even more.

I am tired.

Pin-Up Girls

Well, I survived opening night of my show, "Pin-Up Girls." It actually went very well, despite a somewhat rocky dress rehearsal last night. Tonight was our second night, and aside from the less-than-vocal audience, all went well. The "after show" went well also. For those of you who don't know, on Saturday nights there is a fundraiser "Burlesque Show" where all the girls in the show do a dance. A Burlesque-style dance. Where we take our clothes off. In front of complete strangers. Good times! The only hiccups were a stray pastie during rehearsal and a less-than-perfect stick pony dance in the number. If you're interested, check it out every Saturday night until Nov. 22.

Trust . . . Who can you?

So I'm not completely naive. I know that stuff happens . . . murders, theft, deceit. I guess I just never thought it would happen to me.

Last Saturday, October 11, 2008, while Mercury was in its retrograde or whatever, I was parked at the golf course/country club parking lot where I've been parking for two whole years to do my Saturday run. The trail is the same as what I usually run, but from a different angle. That's why I choose to drive there on Saturdays. When I returned from my run, I discovered that my passenger window had been smashed and that whoever had done that had stolen my purse . . . and everything in it. Credit cards, cash, driver's license, passport, phone, digital camera, apartment keys, lipstick . . . everything. I was a bit upset to say the least.

The last week I have been trying to get my life back in order. It isn't easy. It's a vicious circle. I can't get an ID without a birth certificate. I can't get a birth certificate without notarizing a form and paying money. My bank requires a form of ID other than a MN driver's license (i.e. a passport or CA DL) but I can't get a passport without a former passport or birth certificate. I can't get a CA ID without either a passport or birth certificate.

Basically, I'm screwed. I've finally started to get replacement credit cards in the mail, but at some places I can't use them without a picture ID. Ha.

Lesson learned, but not completely understood.

I'm back . . .

Yes, it's been awhile since I've been here to share. But guess what? It's Thanksgiving week out here in LA-LA land, and I've got time on my hands.

Yes, I said "Thanksgiving week." Holidays are special occasions out here in Hollywood. They usually turn into week or two-week events. That is, in that people take a lot of time off. It was just Veteran's Day - right? Even that day was quiet. Crazy. Christmas vacation starts about the 18th and lasts until just after the New Year. Well, maybe this year it will last longer than that with the WGA strike and all. If it's still going. (Please, God, let the strike be over by then. We need to get back to work).

I went hiking yesterday - my first time ever. I am a little sore - not too much, but a tad. I guess working out every day of my life for the past however many years has prepared me a bit for the after-effects of climbing a mountain. Although, I only did the "easy" trail yesterday. I need better shoes to tackle the more challenging route. I'm up for it, though. I think I've found my new exercise addiction. Plus, of course, the bonus of seeing celebrities out and about in the canyon. Hehe.

What else can I update you on?

Oh - still battling with the insurance company. I'm newly motivated after watching Michael Moore's "Sicko." Seriously - watch it, even if you're not a Michael Moore fan.

It's cold here - and foggy. Well, not as cold as MN, I'm sure. But still cold. I'm not a wimp, just a cold soul now.

Til tomorrow (yes, I really do have nothing to do).

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Ugh. I got cast in this - what, play, I guess? It's been a disaster. Two weeks to prepare, few rehearsals, and more I can't really publish. After a dress rehearsal last night (that ended at 2:00 a.m.) I was feeling a bit, well, FREAKED OUT. Opening night went OK, except there were only two people in the audience (it happened to be my two peeps).

One word. Unprofessional.

What makes it even more regretful, is that I actually paid MONEY to be a part of this.

I don't want to mention the word "scam" but that's what I'm feeling at this point.

ARGH. I didn't want my newest post to be a complaining one, but alas, it is.

Sorry, folks.

I HATE Insurance Companies

Who's with me on this one?

I have never had a good experience with an insurance company - NEVER. How many of you have? I'd like to know. Because I'm betting the percentage of good in relation to bad is extremely small.

The other day I was watching (or reading - closed caption) Oprah at the gym while on the elliptical, and she had Michael Moore (latest film, Sicko) along with some lady from some insurance-affiliated organization. Anyway . . . I haven't seen the film, but just to watch the small clips and hear what the film is about was maddening, sickening, disheartening. I felt for those people who had been screwed over by their insurance company.

And then I became one of them.

A few days ago BCBS called me and said my coverage was "under review" because they had no proof that I was a full-time employee at Midwest Grain Systems (for those of you who don't know, this is my husband's business - well, mine too). When I was added to the group policy (as HALF OWNER of the company) we initially ran into issues, but I was eventually added successfully. Or so we thought.

Apparently, BCBS is cancelling my coverage, making that cancellation retroactive to May 1, 2007. Not only that, any claims that I have had paid to me (which is a significant dollar amount) I must pay back. Not only that, but they are KEEPING the premium that was paid to them on my behalf. I don't know about y'all, but in some countries, that's called "stealing."

Joe told all of this to me early this evening. I was in tears. I don't know what I can do. I feel helpless, angry, wronged and little.

No company should be able to make a person feel like that. Any company that does is sick.

No wonder Michael Moore's film is such a hit. Usually movies based on true stories are.

Feel free to comment with your thoughts.