Join me on Facebook…
Flickr Photos
Visitors to this site
Just visiting
You can also find me at….
Much of a muchness
Things that make you go 'hmm'…
Hey! from LA!
Posted by on September 8, 2008
Here I am in Venice, California, the sun is shining (as it has done for my entire stay) and I am having a ball. I have played tennis, eaten great food, been given incredible hospitality by some generous friends, been on a bike ride along the beach from Marina del Rey to Santa Monica, listened to wonderful live music, shopped, played with adorable children, hosted a party, watched tennis (Yay! for Andy Murray!) and seen a great movie (which incidentally also introduced me to my newest crush – of whom more later!) It’s surprising how energized and well, happy, I am, just being in the sunshine. It’s no wonder people are generally so friendly and sociable – how can you be anything else when the weather is so cheerful!
The film I went to see with my friend, Claire, was Woody Allen’s new film ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ starring Scarlett Johannson, Rebecca Hall, Penelope Cruz and my new crush, Javier Bardem.
Having only ever seen him in ‘No Country for Old Men’ where he played a murderous psychopath with a very strange haircut, I was unprepared for the sex-on-a-stick, all round gorgeousness that is Javier Bardem. I am in love. If George Clooney doesn’t hurry up and come and find me while I am still in LA, I may just have to switch my allegiance…
Claire, who you may remember I have mentioned before in this blog, has written a very funny book called ‘Plus One – A Year in the Life of a Hollywood Nobody’ (she also has a great blog) and the exciting news is that it is being made into a movie as we speak! Called ‘The Making of Plus One’ (check it out in the Internet Movie Data Base here) it is a movie about the making of the movie of the book (still with me?) and the brilliant news is that Claire and her sister Julia Fordham, get to make a cameo appearance in the movie, playing themselves. They are flying out to the South of France to film their bit next month.
Gosh! I actually know a movie star! Two even! That’s even better than meeting (well, gazing across the room at) the great Harry Shearer (of Spinal Tap and Simpsons fame), Victoria Tennant (who starred in one of my favourite movies ‘LA Story’ with her ex-husband, Steve Martin. And, Kim, incidentally, she is your favourite ballet dancer, Irina Baranova’s daughter!) and meeting Robert Shaw’s daughter and Tess Harper, who played Tommy Lee Jones’ wife in ‘No Country for Old Men’. It just occurs to me that means she has met Javier Bardem. I have sat next to someone who knows Javier Bardem!! Here she is with luscious Javier at the end on the right.
Star struck? Moi? Well, this is LA…
PS Just been reminded by Claire that on my first night in LA, we were in Hal’s restaurant in Venice and John Voigt and his son (Angelina Jolie’s brother) were at the next table to us. And I didn’t pick up on it – until everyone mentioned it on the way home. My biggest star spot and I missed it. Well, I was jet lagged…
Much of a muchness 
Oh poo …… and double poo!!!
I did have a sculpture in a gallery in Santa Monica …….. it went bust soon after …….. oh well.
[It sounds like you’re having a lovely time – I wonder if you’ll ever come back]
Fabulous time! And I totally know what you mean about Javier Bardem! I saw him in Vicky Christina Barcelona a few weeks ago and had exactly the same reaction. Who knew? I hope the rest of your stay is a wonderful or better. Enjoy the sun, enjoy the California coastline and the sunny dispositioned people!
DP – They may have to drag me screaming and kicking onto the plane but I shall have to return on Friday :-(
Unless I can claim squatters rights on ex’s house here in Venice….hmmm, now there’s a thought…..
Amy – he is a hottie for sure! Just found out he is dating Penelope Cruz – oh poo! George it is then…. :-)
So glad you are having a fabby time .. Venice beach!
A few years ago I had a phone call from a mate if mine .. it was simply ‘I am on Venice Beach’….. me ‘Oh wow’….. her ‘and there is a guy juggling chain saws’ …….me ‘ really?’ ….her ‘gotta go just wanted to share that!’ lol :-)
Glad to hear you’re having a good time. Great photos!
70st – it is a whole different experience for sure! I cycled along there the other day sea on one side, wackiness on the other – fantastic!
SW – thanks! Glad you liked them! Just a small selection to give you a flavour of the trip – they do great sunsets here!
Wow, that slide presentation is very cool. What beautiful pictures you took. I liked the palm trees in the evening right next to the white sand and the blue sky. Awesome. You actually gave me some ideas for a presentation I may do later on. Thanks!
China
That Javier is quite the chameleon, and yeah, he is sexy in the new Woody Allen film. Who knew?! ;>
I managed to miss the US Open finals. Oy. Glad Federer won, but am twice as glad Murray beat Nadal!
If you stay in Cali, I’ll have 2 friends I can visit there. 8) and how very cool about your friend Claire and her book being made into a movie!
My run in with celeb story is that dh and I were in the same waiting area at the Chicago airport with Kevin Bacon. So, if anyone wants to play 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon with me, I’m at the top of the line, baby! hahaha!
It’s good to know that your having a good time in LA. :)
Diane! Santa Monica!! You’ll definitely have to go to hiromi papers!!! They’re located at a great art gallery site, the Bergamot Station. But watch your baggage limit ;-)
(And you need to see Bardem in Before Night Falls. You’ll forget about George without even noticing …)
Hey Diane, long time. Glad to see that you are having a great time.
Ah, yes, the sunshine does do wonders for ones attitude. But I am a great believer in diversity, especially in weather. Endless days of sunshine and mild temps. I’ve lived in CA. Pleasant but unreal, too. “Nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there.” At least not anymore. Glad you had fun.
My parents had breakfast with Henry Winkler when we were staying at a B & B, and they didn’t wake me up! I was a teenager. They sleep. What were they thinking not to wake me up for that??!!
So great to know you have such a fabulous time in LA and you really deserve every minute of it. Go on enjoy!
I too have the same cruch, isn’t he just magnetic. I haven’t seen the newest movie, but definitely will now.
I will be in CA next month I can hardly wait to be on the beach, it really is a nice eady going region out there. The farther west one goes the nicer the people get.
sounds like you are having a fun time over there… Diane..
that Javier Bardem certainly is the dark brooding type…is he married???
I don’t guess you saw my Johnny or you would’ve told me about it … and him about me … right, Diane?
Love your slide! Glad you’re having a great time in the USofA!
Come on then Miss Jet Lagged …… get posting!!!
Thank you all so much for your comments and good wishes.
China Pattern – glad to be of service and glad you enjoyed the photographs!
Everyone who mentioned Javier – yes Javier is divine, gorgeous, dark and brooding and magnetic but he is dating Penelope Cruz last I heard :-(
Dunn – thanks, I had a ball!
Astrid -Only made it to Paper Source but have been to Bergamot Station before, it’s great! I’ll definitely look out for that film!
Scratchbags – thank you so much!
writinggb – Henry Winkler is SO cool – well worth waking up for!
Teresa – I’m thrilled Roger Federer won the US Open – it was a good (if quick) match – Murray is still young and has loads of time to win grand slams…I love the Kevin Bacon story!
RennyBA – thank you – I did my best!
Debo Hobo – he is fab! (see above) I envy you your trip to the sun – I could happily live their – for a time at least.
Kim – I had such a good time- felt happier than I have in ages and ages…
Jenny – I looked for Johnny Depp but no luck, I’m afraid, didn’t see George or Javier either :-(
DP – all right, all ready! It’s done, it’s done! Sheesh!