Donna in Hollywoodland

The blog from Los Angeles and Hollywood by Donna Grayson

Saturday, April 08, 2006


April 8, 2006 Pictures

building Building in Downtown Los Angeles


palmtree downtown Palm Tree in Downtown Los Angeles


art in la
The picture that got me in trouble. Click on the link to read the full story




Why I Hate the Century City Mall.. and other stories

Today, it was the Double-Feature Saturday that my friend and I get together every-so-often to do.
Except this time, instead of picking the wonderful Arclight cinemas in Hollywood, we chose the new AMC theatres in Century City.

The theatres themselves are nicely re-modeled. And the Food Court and restaurants, though still being remodeled, have plenty of selections.

We decided to see two movies
Friends with Money
and
Benchwarmers

After picking up our tickets, we headed over to Houstons Restaurant.

Now remember, I am getting ready for the dreaded "colonoscopy" that is coming up.
So I am started the restricted part of the diet.
No Seeds, No Nuts, No fibrous vegetables.

Thats okay, I will use this week as an excuse.
I will eat things I have been denying myself since I was diagnosed back in August 05 with breast cancer.
I will relax the dietary rules alittle, just so its not so hard on me.

That means an Avocado Hamburger with French Fries and a Light Beer at Houstons.
What a treat that will be.

The hamburger arrives at my table.
There are friggin' little seeds all over the flippin' hamburger bun !
I forgot about those dang little seeds they sprinkle on top.

My friend tries to be positive "Well its only Saturday, I'm sure they will digest in time."

No, no - I pick the top of the hamburger bun off.
My hamburger is now alittle strange, because there is such a little top. And the avocado seeps through.
But I enjoy the french fries. I haven't enjoyed them in ages because "they" say that toxins are released when potatoes are fried. So this is a real treat.

Since we are in a nice restaurant, my friend and I try not to discuss my upcoming colonoscopy in to much detail.
Out of politeness towards the other diners.

Then its off to the movies.
The first movie is "Friends With Money".
I was looking so forwarded to seeing all this Actresses of a Certain Age together on the big screen.
And they on purpose made them all look like crap.
You could see wrinkles and greasy hair. They looked 10 years older than any of them really are.
I know the characters in this are supposed to be depressed and having problems - but did they have to look so bad?

After alittle walk around the Mall, our next movie was "Benchwarmers".
I love a good comedy. And I love David Spade and Rob Schneider.
And it was a positive, uplifting, fun movie. Yes, there is crude humor.
But the message about children being accepting of other children was just wonderful.
Its great when I movie can have a message like that, and still be alittle raunchy.
I really enjoyed this film.

Okay, my fun day at the movies is now over.
I head down to the parking lot.
I put my little validated parking ticket into the automatic machines.
The machine read "$ 15 - please insert cash or credit card."

I stop. Fifteen Dollars. For Parking at a Mall.
That can't be right. The ticket is validated.
I take the ticket out. Hit the "Cancel" button. And try again.
"$ 15 - please insert cash or credit card."

I look around trying to find an attendant. There is none.
I guess they have the Automatic machines so that when you get your parking bill, you are not able to punch someone in the face.

I read the sign. And basically they are charging you more money every 20 minutes.
So after 2 movies and a lunch, even with validation, yes my parking fee is $ 15.

I pay by Credit Card. My blood pressure through the roof.
I leave my friend a voice mail. I will never, ever go back to the Century City Mall.
Ever.


Friday, April 07, 2006


Grocery Store

I ran to the Grocery Store with a special shopping list.
You see, the Colonoscopy is right around the corner.

For 5 days - No Seeds, No Nuts, No fibrous vegetables like celery or green beans.
Then it is a two day fast, clear liquids only.

The part that really confused me was the vegetables.
I had to call the doctors office, and ask what kind of vegetables I could eat.
Can I eat lettuce ? Can I eat an apple ?
Yes and yes.
But it just confused me, because all vegetables have fiber.

Then I asked "Can I have oatmeal and strawberries for breakfast?"
Yes to the oatmeal, and no to the strawberries because strawberries have little seeds.

Frankly, when the nurse said I could have oatmeal, I didn't believe her.
I usually buy the organic, steel cut, slow-cooking oatmeal.
I just look at it, and I think I see seeds somewhere.
So I am being careful, and will go back to have a white bread bagel and cream cheese for breakfast.

In addition to that, here's what I bought. I kind of splurged on foods in the no-nut, no-seeds, no fiber category.

Organic White Bread (Just what is the purpose of organic white bread anyway?)
Kings Hawaiian White Bread
White Bagels with cream cheese.
4 bottles of Gatorade - green and yellow
1 six pack of Sprite
1 large grape juice
1 large apple juice
4 boxes of Jello - 2 pineapple, 1 lime and 1 lemon
1 large box plain Gelatine (contains 7 grams of protein per packet)
Arizona Ice Tea
Snapple Green Tea
Popscicle Great White popscicles - these are white flavored popscicles with no color added. The package says they are made with out coloring so they are kid-friendly and mess-free. I think they are really made for people about to have colonoscopies.

The last thing I needed was Beef Consume.
A friend who is also hypoglycemic, and had a colonoscopy said the cans of Campbells Beef Consume have 8 grams of protein each.
And she lived off of them when she was on her liquid diet.

The Ralphs I normally go to did not have them.
So I need to go looking at other stores this weekend.


Thursday, April 06, 2006


April 6 2006 Pictures

buildingDowntown Los Angeles


building Building in Downtown Los Angeles


building Green and White Building In Downtown Los Angeles



Wednesday, April 05, 2006


April 5 2006 Pictures

Walt Disney Concert Hall Walt Disney Concert Hall


Building Art work Downtown Los Angeles Building Art Work


buildingBuilding Downtown Los Angeles



Tuesday, April 04, 2006


Kinky Boots


Tonight, I volunteered over at The Egyptian Theatre for a membership screening of "Kinky Boots".

People who have joined the American Cinematheque, and have become Members, get invitations to private screenings through out the year. And this was one of them.

I did guest check-in at the front door. Checking off people's names from the RSVP Membership Rooster as they arrived to see the movie.

Then once the movie started, I got to go in and catch "Kinky Boots".
Such a funny english film . All about a shoe manufacturing company that starts to make Kinky Boots.
I really laughed. It was a hysterically funny, and fun movie.

Afterwards, the two lead actors, Joel Edgerton
and Chiwetel Ejiofor , were both there for a Question and Answer.
I liked the movie so much, I moved to the front row to hear the Question and Answer.

If you want to see a movie that will really make you laugh, I recommend Kinky Boots.


Monday, April 03, 2006


Arpil 3 2006 Pictures

Downtown Fountain Fountain in Downtown Los Angeles
Taken while I was on Jury Service


Palm Tree Palm Tree in Los Angeles


Clouds over LAClouds Over Los Angeles



Sunday, April 02, 2006


E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Heavens Gate


I LUV volunteering for the Family Matinees over at The Aero Theatre .
The little kids are so sweet and fun. Its great watching them arrive through the lobby.

Today, they were showing E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial .
It was a packed house. ET Lovers everywhere.

My favorite was a little girl, about 3 years old. She came in carrying an ET Doll that was almost as big as she was.
How she managed to carry it, I'll never know.
As I ripped her ticket, and she passed by, I was wondering if the ET needed a ticket.
I mean, the stuffed ET was as big as some of the kids in the audience.
Oh, thats right - ET is the star of the movie. He doesn't need a ticket.
We should have asked the stuffed ET to do a Question & Answer afterwards.

They did have a Q&A before, and both Sean Frye , who played Steve, and Cinematographer Allen Daviau , were there.

I did manage to see the scene towards the end where ET has been captured by the scientists and is in the oxygen chamber close to death next to the little boy.

After the Family Matinee was over, I really wanted to stay to catch at least the first half of the evening movie, Heavens Gate . Its nearly 4 hours long, but I wanted to see at least up until the intermission.
I ran over to Wild Oats Market across the street and grabbed a sandwich.
Then I went in to sit and watch the movie.

Gee, I guess I was to tired from being in the lobby during the childrens matinee. I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I hate being a Volunteer and then falling asleep during the film. It doesn't really look to good or give a good impression.
I tried as hard as I could, but I ended up leaving about an hour into the movie.
It wasn't going to happen. After Donnie Darko last night, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial this afternoon, it was time to go home.



April 2 2006 Pictures

Beverly Hills HotelBruce, Valerie and I had a wonderful brunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Oscar Sunday


Clouds Clouds Over Los Angeles


Downtown Downtown Los Angeles



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