louise on the left (coast)

Thanks to a re-run of the same UTI for over 6 weeks and the cool opportunity to try out all the major antibiotics of the past decade I was able to take what I'm hoping is a short stroll down Urology Lane. Anybody ever have a camera up the bladder while it's being filled with water? Wow, that was really unfun and humiliating. Nothing like funny banter with a man while he's looking up your wee-wee. Today was interesting, too. It wasn't a bit as painful or embarrassing as the camera episode, but I did have an interesting thing happen. They gave me a lot of tasty LA tap water to down, which was a lot better than the barium swillers on my left in the "waiting room," (not really "a room" at all, it was a hallway with chairs.) In any event the nurse said they'd put an IV in my arm so they could inject dye into my system in order to film my kidneys and bladder, etc. They said it might make me feel "kind of warm or flushed." Okay, so that s...

Last night I went to my first and only Elton John concert. Check THIS out: My ticket! That's my ticket , my friends! That's my ticket to Elton John ...Last night. Finally, after all these years. Wow. That's my teen-age idol out there! I mean -- his play list was almost too much to take it in. You have to understand, he was my idol, but I had never once made it to an Elton John Concert. Here he is striking a pose. Let me backtrack; If you knew me growing up, (say, anytime between 1970 and 1982) you would know what a huge, major, big deal going to an Elton John concert for the first time really would be. What can I say? I was an only child living in a somewhat rural part of New England with what can only be described as astonishingly un-hip parents. This meant nobody took me to a rock concert or even drove me into the next town to buy anyone's latest album, either. I was on my own...However, I learned to be very resourceful that way. I was a dedicated fan...

Standing up to the big boys: I love it when someone has the guts to stand up to the big boys. But, in particular, it takes real guts to be an actor who lectures the NAB. Which is why everyone should listen to what Tim Robbins was recorded doing the other day at the NAB convention. The message he sent wasn't just directed at media production, but media consumers, as well. And that would be, us. It's all so dark and cynical out there. Did I mention sensational? I am no prude. Trust me. But, geez. It's getting bad out there. Naturally, this has been disturbing to me as a parent. How do I stay honest about our leaders and not kill my children's hope for the future? Knowing there are those who feel as I do about this issue is encouraging to me. Mr. Robbins should be thanked for having the courage to challenge those in in charge of our "collective dreams." We need to keep reminding them that they are in a position to change society, not just make money off ...

I mean, at the Getty

I loved this exhibit. It was like visiting the palace of Louis XIV as imagined by the creators of Blues Clues.

Growing up we had a black and white Zenith TV Set. My parents took me with them to by it at G. Fox & Co. , a huge store outside of New Orleans built on top of a huge swamp in Metarie, La. It was the year the Beatles song "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was a hit. I also got a bag of stale popcorn, that day, as well. It tasted heavenly and came in a long white bag sporting a clown's face soaked with tiny oil spots. Usually we passed that popcorn booth in the entrance but never got any. That day I got my popcorn which was a tip off that things were about to change in my life, big time. In any event, I loved that TV. It wasn't much. It only got a total of about 5 grainy channels which aired old re-runs till the evening news came on, but I loved my Zenith. I don't care what other parents say, I could never, despite how much I love Tim Robbins for yelling at the Big Boys about shoddy TV programming, but I could never deny my kids their favorite TV shows. After all,...