You'll never believe...

Who I ran into at the Miracle Mile L.A. Fitness...

B.J. Novak!
a.k.a. Ryan from the Office

He was wearing a white hanes undershirt and blue basketball pants. I shot him a cheesy, 'I know who you are' smile and he ran away as fast as his short legs could take him.

I was still pretty excited.

"I can't believe I'm in Texas..."

If it weren't for the iMedia summit, I don't know when I ever would have ventured out to Bush Country. When I flew in I could immediately see the difference between Texas and California. The land was carved out by crops, cows spread out across the fields and trailers lining the streets. It was going to take a lot of convincing for this city-slicker California girl to take to Texas, but in the end I think I may have been convinced.

As it turns out Texas is beautiful. I was lucky enough to venture out in mid-may before the bugs start to bite and the humid heat becomes exhausting. When I stepped out into the Texas night the temperature was just perfect, like floating in a relaxing pool. The resort we stayed at was out in the middle of butt-fuck....texas and was some 700 acres large which provided rolling green hills, large trees and an abundance of wildflowers.













You just can't imagine how beautiful some of the land in Texas is until you go there. But you don't want to hear about the good things that Texas can offer. You want to see this:
























The first night we were there Bree and I had a nice dinner at "Uncle Billy's Brew & Que" on Barton Springs Road. A beautiful little spot on the fringes of Austin (near the bridge where you see the bats) where I had a wonderful pulled pork sandwich and margarita.

After that we headed down to 6th street where mayhem quickly ensued. I don't think I've been to a dirrrtier, crazier place in my life.

We hit up the legendary Coyote Ugly for a very short time and ended up at a very fun outdoor bar called the Blind Pig.

After stocking up on some wine, Bree, Mr. Kevin M. Ryan and I headed down the long and winding road back to the Resort and on the way almost ran over first, an armadillo (I kid you not) and second an owl having a late night snack in the middle of the road.
Yes, folks, these things really do happen in Texas.

It was after this first night that the iMedia Summit began. The summit was a blur of badges, blinding flashes, Barbeque and drinks. I got the chance to meet lots of people from all over the country-- but besides that there isn't much to say.

I got the chance to meet folks from the Dana Point office for the first time and become closer with those I work with in Culver City. I'm very grateful for all the experiences I had while I was there and would do it again in a heartbeat.

The summit afforded me the chance to laze by the pool and go horseback riding. I don't think I can ever complain about work again.

When I was allowed to escape the compound I got to see the beautiful sites of Austin. The capital building, the old architecture and fun antique shops. I took tons of pictures below are just a few of the fun ones. For more check out my flickr page.

There's not much more I can say about Texas-- it was beautiful, the people were more than nice, the gas was extremely cheap and the bars closed at midnight. It was a strange journey and It's good to be home.

iMedia Spot

Oh the horror! The embarrassment! Two and a half minutes of me talking about MySpace...I'm sure you have better things to do, but for a good laugh click the image below.

and the winning name is....

Heidi!

Puppy Puppy Puppy!

Boyan surprised me last night with a 3-month-old Chow, German Sheppard mixed puppy.



The poor thing is still nameless but once we do decide I'll let you know. Suggestions?
You can see more pictures here and here.

"Poor slob. Poor slob without a name."

Fiona and Zach

I have much love for Fiona Apple and this video just shows how cute she is. An interview between her and Zach Galifianakis where no you don't really learn much about either artist but it's enjoyable.

Artist on Artist: Zach Galifianakis & Fiona Apple

Happy Birthday Kelsey!

Ad:Tech San Francisco

My trip to San Francisco was an interesting one made memorable by late nights out followed by early mornings, the Seattle Mariners with their love of Cristal and Booth babes giving away lots and lots of SchWAG! Which as Michael Scott so eloquently put it, stands for "Stuff We All Get."

When my colleagues and I stepped off the Bart we arrived in the middle of downtown San Fran bustling with business men and cable cars.

Our hotel the Palace is located just around the corner from the Moscone Center where Ad:tech was being held which made it very convienant to travel to and from in between sessions.

After drinks and dinner and drinks with the iMedia team at Two --whose only redeeming feature was the nice gay bartender (the food was tiny and unoriginal)--we went back to the hotel for an early night before a crazy Ad:tech filled morning.

We arrived at the Moscone center at 8am which gave me an entire 8 hours until the first session I had to cover, so I decided to have lunch off site on Maiden Lane near Union Square. I had to meet with some gentlemen from Kiptronics at 2pm, so I had to eat somewhat locally. I called my friend Nikki who recommended a place called "Mocca."

It was a quiet little street, blocked off from traffic. The weather was ideal and I was surrounded by couture shops filled with beautiful things.

A juicy tri-tip sandwich, bean salad and big latte served well for my lunch and spent the rest of my time moseying around union square back towards Moscone.

After the last session, the iMedia team met up for drinks at the Big SF party which was overcrowded, stuffy and felt like a frat mixer gone terribly wrong.

We managed to escape and had dinner at the Tadich Grill--which happens to be the oldest business in California. I had a 14oz steak just to get some more cow into my system then met up with my friends Nikki and Ausra, and Aus's friend Jimena.

We spent some time there until four guys decided they wanted to buy us drinks--which turned out to be Cristal. Imagine my surprise later when I found out they were members of the Seattle Mariners...I probably shouldn't have said I had no respect for Baseball because it wasn't an Olympic sport. Let's continue.



They invited Jimena and Ausra to the game which they attended and I went back to my room to prepare for the next day of Ad:tech.

Ad:tech on wednesday was filled with excitement with the opening of the exhibition hall. Glories of bags and balls and water bottles abound as I cautiously approached booths to steal pieces of schwag, narrowly escaping and feeling guilty after taking what was obviously up for grabs.

That night was the Ad:Tech awards. A total mess of people congregating around the open bar waiting for food to come out and Cirque du Soleil performers to take the stage. It was there I bumped into my friend Stephanie completely by coincidence and we made plans to go out later.

Friends Nikki and Natalie met me at the Palace hotel and we headed up to Union Square to have some drinks at a bar called Sugar. It had a very fun ambience, complete with fireplace and blue tinted bar. Above the window you see behind Nikki, they projected the movie Legend with Tom Cruise--which of course scores bonus points with me. They also projected it outside on the facade of the building facing the street. We probably should have stayed here and enjoyed ourselves, instead we got into Milo's cab and headed over to the Marina to meet up with Ausra and some of her friends at a bar named Matrix. Milo was quite interesting. He was from Slovakia, and his wife was half korean half white. He said she looked like a chinese refugee.


After that we went to yet another club near Union Square. It was as if a Discotheque circa 1990 had gotten lost in the space time continuum and was transported into the future 17 years. The music was so loud I thought I was going to get radiation poisoning.

We left there as soon as we could and I went to go get some chinese food in Chinatown before making it back to my hotel at 3am. It's a good thing I didn't have to get up until 8:30 the next day for more sessions and to check out of my hotel. I headed back to Moscone for the last time and after lunch with Nikki and Michael at Chipotle we headed to the airport and came back to Los Angeles.

As I got into my car to head home I thought about my exhausting trip, all the people I met. It was a time filled with lots of excitement, chance meetings and lots and lots of alcohol. So thank you Palace Hotel, Moscone Center, Ad:tech, iMedia team, Nikki, Ausra, Jimena, Dave, Seattle Mariners, Milo the Taxi Driver, Stephanie and Mocca Cafe for a great trip. Thank you Boyan for bringing me flowers at the airport and thank you Jurgen for picking me up. I had a great time in SF, but gosh it's good to be home.

Happy Birthday Parky

It was years ago today (I don't know how many but not that long ago) that a Mr. Roger Park was born to bring happiness and humor into the world.

Today we celebrate his birth, and the movement he began.

Happy Birthday Roger

May your first child, be a masculine child.

UPdates

You know it's bad when your boss tells you that you've been neglecting your blog...so here I am with updates.

I haven't been doing much, but this is what is new.

In music, I have been listening to:
Kate Walsh
Postal Service
Emily Haines

In books I just finished reading:
Speaker for the Dead
A Crazy Little Thing Called Death

I made this shirt for boyan


...for his birthday. If you get its meaning then points for you.

The boy got TWO cakes! He doesn't even like cake. The first was red velvet (the frosting had glitter on it, I've never heard of such a thing) the second was a chocolate cookie monster from Joan.


"COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE COOKIE!"

Both the BBQ my parents threw and the party we had last night were so much fun. Here are some fun pics from last night.


left: Joan spilled something in Boyan's eye. right: She's 5ft, He's 6'7"


Joan was about to beat up Efka. She's small but she's scrappy.


Boyan and me at the end of the evening...we were tired.

Beyond that next week I travel to San Francisco for the Ad:tech conference which promises to offer lots of excitement. Plus San Francisco is one of my top five favorite cities. After Newark.

Spring Break is Over!

Obviously the reasons I mourn the end of Spring Break have changed since last year. I'm not saddened by the prospect of returning the to routine of classes, papers and finals, rather it is the end of peace and calm that befalls westwood when the kids go away to play that I will truly miss.

Gone will be the quiet streets, easily acquired parking spots and undisturbed sleep as the rabble of thursday night parties, friday night parties and...saturday night parties will return to bring westwood back to life.

I'm not selfish, I know that the village thrives because of UCLA students. The constant ebb and flow of each incoming and graduating class make this small community what it is.

But that doesn't mean I can't delight in having it all to myself every once in awhile.

It's almost Easter!

Which means my meats and sweets abstinence is almost over!

I remember when Lent first started it was girl scout season and I was so sad that I wouldn't be able to indulge in my Samoa obsession, thankfully my mother bought me a box which is now hiding, in a plastic bag in my cupboard until April 8th when they will be inevitably devoured in one sitting.

If you share my love for Girl Scout cookies you have to listen to this clip from NPR, "Finding Binge Absolution in a Do-Si-Do" about a fellow Girl Scout cookie fanatic and his shameful binging on the beloved treats. It's truly funny and you'll find yourself shouting, "That's me!" while listening to it.

The Onion's Hilarious Headline

I mean...awful headline.

Amy Winehouse...again sorry

Not to be Winehouse-heavy but her album is doing extremely well here in the states.

She did have to cancel her show at Spaceland, but unlike the other shows she canceled it was supposedly because the venue couldn't accomodate her large back-up band.

Anywho--Her album "Back to Black" is currently #7 on the Billboard chart AND its now only $8.99 at Borders with this coupon. Not that i'm trying to promote her or anything but I like her a lot.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I love St. Patricks Day, not just because it's an excuse to drink Bushmills and Guinness, not because it gives me the chance to blast flogging molly or brag of my Irish ancestry. Simply because I get to wear my favorite color in abundance. That'd be green of course!

I went down to San Diego to visit with Britta, Ausra and Ruth and below are pictures of our exploits on the town.































We made t-shirts to celebrate the holiday. Mine said "Erin go Bragh," which of course no one knew the meaning of.

Britta's "Who's Yer Paddy," was definitely a hit, but Ausra's 0% Irish, 0.08% Guinness was probably the most popular of the night--Thanks to Britta's brilliant marketing mind of course.

It was really great to see the original Dykstra Hall group together again, hopefully it won't be years until the next time. We realized when we were hanging out that we'd known eachother for 5+ years! Its truly crazy to think about. Ruth, Tash, Auj don't feel excluded. I have plenty of then and now pictures of you guys as well.

left: Ausra, Britta and I at SAE's Haunted, October 2002

right: Ausra, me and Britta in front of Beach Break Cafe, San Diego March 2007

Alas another St. Patricks day has come and gone and I'll have to wait a whole year to show my Irish pride. Until then, I'll just have to dig out my copy of The Quiet Man and dream of Innisfree.

Erin go Bragh!

And remember, NO Paddy Fingers!

I told you so!

The LAist has caught my Amy Winehouse fever!


You can read the rest of the review here, or you can see Amy in LA tomorrow at Spaceland. I was going to see her tonight at the Roxy, but I didn't want to drive out to sunset to find out she canceled.

Book Nerd Alert

Just a recap of the books I've read this March:















Boyan made me take a break from reading the Ender's Game series--so I read Howl's Moving Castle...I have quite a few left in the Orson Scott Card series (thank God) but after that I have a feeling I'll be reading a lot of Diane Wynne Jones.

NERD ALERT!




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