Brunch

Brunch is my new favorite meal. It encompasses so many of my favorite activities -- prosecco drinking, eating breakfast foods, and socializing comfortably for hours. Such a meal would be an obvious winner for someone like me, but I didn't realize it until today after leaving Adeeb's new mammoth home in Brooklyn.

It is the end of October and today was a cherished warm day, so we sat in Adeeb's backyard and relaxed for hours. Dr. Steve shared a fascinating story about how when doing the gynecological portion of his training, there was a woman who was paid to be the test patient and critiqued the doctors' technique. Can you imagine? Who would want that job and how much must someone like that get paid?!



Behold one dish from the gorgeous meal -- rosemary hinted, lemony, sweet french toast with the crusts cut off. Adeeb could easily win any Top Chef Quick Fire Challenge with this tasty treat! Creativity, elegant presentation and exceptionally yummy.

Out with Band

Work hard, play hard. A good motto to live by. So while doing TV promo work for Rod's new album in New York, Soulbook, the Artiste invited me and the band to dinner at Mr. Chow's. It's a warming feeling to have another "family" - especially when we're out of town. And we definitely know how to have fun together.

The hot chicks -- Katja, Penny, Di



Dancing up in the club.




Bundled up!

Bravo Arnold!

Programs like Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel have musical guests on every show, so it is important to create exciting ways to make an performer stand out. The Artiste does a rather sensational job doing that on his own -- his witty banter, his self-deprecating British humor, or an occasional crotch grab -- make his interviews especially memorable. For Leno today, Arnold ingeniously conceived the idea for a song wheel for Rod to spin. After the hilarious interview, Rod gave the wheel a hard spin and it twirled at a hurried speeds until it abruptly stopped at the single, "It's The Same Old Song". It couldn't have been luckier since that is what the band rehearsed! Ah show biz!

An excellent idea by Arnold. And yet another example of his brilliant and creative talent.

Press Junket

How easy would it be to lose interest after being asked the same question over and over again every 10 minutes? Welcome to a press junket day. I don't know the etymology of the word junket, but the first four letters do sum up what that experience is like. . .junk aka garbage. The Artiste is the ultimate professional though. He was fresh and charming even after an afternoon of fifteen international television interviews all starting with, "so how did you decide to record soul songs?" A valid, necessary question, but who wouldn't tire from repeating one's self?

One of the ways to keep the Artiste energetic is to bring a soccer ball to the junket location -- today being a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I hear other artists use their interview breaks for knitting, frenetic texting or touching up hair and make-up. None of that for my artist. Just one 32-paneled plastic ball and he's happy!

Here we are after three hours of back-to-back interviews with that wonderful ball!

Jason Mraz

I challenge you to find a bigger fan of Jason Mraz than Kim. She has been following him since he first came onto the music scene. Maybe pre-scene, in fact. Thus, when Mraz came to the Hollywood Bowl, this was a must. And after seeing him live, I get it, Kim. I'm smitten too!

An elated Kimmie in her garden box seat, which was amazing until. . .



Jason did a set in the aisle between the garden box seats and terrace box seats. Making him behind us and facing the other way?! I'm sure he made the *other* fans happy and he's not so bad from behind!



Happiness.

Happy Hour

With my office working well over 50 +++ hours a week, it's hard to get everyone together for some evening fun. Weeks and months go by with us saying to each other, "we should all hit a happy hour!" Our happy hour started after work at the very untraditional time of 8:30 pm, but we pulled it off!

Here are Zoe, Jackie and I at Stanley's. My camera didn't get the "group shot," but we were also joined by Boulevard's Kristi and hubby Ricky.



Below find beloved Warren being silly with Jason and Richard.



And one shot of the ladies, Warren's fiancee Natalie with Jackie and yours truly.

Nights Out in LA

Arnold, Shawn & Austin and I at the new Boa.


Charles fronting Lips Like Morphine at the Sunset Strip's famous Roxy club.


Kim with her pin-up doll, sex-pot look at Bottle Rocket in Culver City.

Raw Dinner

Way back in June, Olanna invited Carly, Ingrid and I to a raw foods dinner party that Chef Rod Rotondi (BC grad!) was throwing in Venice. The brilliant chef was filming a pilot to his television show called Eat Me Raw and below is a clip. Wow, I have beautiful friends!

Chef Rod Rotondi - Eat Me Raw

The food was surprisingly more exciting than I had expected -- I liked the raw version of chips and dip -- dehydrated, pressed veggies with a pureed nut paste. And I did leave the party feeling satiated, yet light and clean. Hopefully raw foods will make a bigger impact in the food scene. For me personally, I don't think a full raw diet change is in my future. Call me stubborn, too set in my ways, or petulant, but I love *warm* foods. Raw food can offer fun, inventive flavors and textures, but it will never sizzle!

Bella Loves Swimming!

Oh bliss. Becky and Bella came to LA for the weekend. I can never get enough of seeing the joy on Bella's face when she jumps in the pool and so it's a good thing that she never tires of jumping in the pool!

It's The Same Old Song

Check out this rehearsal footage of Rod singing his new single, "It's The Same Old Song" from his new Soulbook album. Go out and buy the whole amazing album. . .and a copy for your friends. . .and more for your family too!

Mary & Jonathan

On October 3rd, Mary and Jonathan had an exquisite, lush engagement party in Laguna. The home had beautiful views of the ocean and sun setting over the water. But the prettiest sight all night was the betrothed couple interacting.

Laurent Levy was the photographer who took this handsome one of Todd, and the other amateur shots below were mine.



Mary, Jonathan and Laurent



Todd and Mark