Living in Tinseltown

So I am really enjoying my Beach Bootcamp class. It's a great excuse to get outside and get some exercise. A few weeks ago my class was cancelled and I didn't know until I'd gone all the way down there. Texas had sent an email but of course I didn't get it because I'm a computer moron who checks her email once a day (this is also the reason that I haven't posted anything in 3 weeks! Sorry!). Anyway, when I got back home I told David to guess why the class was cancelled. My hint was that it was a very L.A. reason. His first guess was traffic. Quite possible but incorrect. His next guess was an earthquake. Not so likely and also incorrect.

The correct answer was that they were filming a movie on the beach. A big chunk of the beach was closed off and there were trucks and trailers everywhere. I saw a tall, thin woman coming out of one of the Star Wagons (the trailers that celebrities use) and I figured she was someone famous. I didn't recognize her but I am a bit of a media hermit so that's no surprise. I must admit that I slowed down as I drove by in the hopes that I would recognize someone.

I suppose I knew that the film industry was sort of a big deal here but for some reason it still surprises me how much Hollywood permeates the whole city. A friend of mine is a costumer for TV and films which involves buying several sets of the same outfit for an actor and then breaking them down so they look worn-in and authentic. The mother of one of Asha's classmates is a talent agent. One of the singers in my choir's husband is a movie extra (but in his heart he's a songwriter/rapper. Seriously.).

It turns out that the beach where my bootcamp class is is one of the top 10 film locations in the city. On the weekend as I returned to my car after my class I saw some people playing croquet in a field near the beach. I thought this was wierd but it turned out that they were filming a scene. By the way, if you ever see a movie or a TV show with a blond pre-teen girl and a boy with red hair playing croquet look out for me! I'm the sweaty lady in the background trying to convince a 4 year old to put her shoes on to cross the street.

I'm not a person who is obsessed with celebrity. I don't buy People or Us magazines although I must admit that I check out the front covers when I'm waiting in line at the grocery store. Is Angelina really pregnant again? How is it possible for a body that skinny to grow a baby?? Increasingly though, I don't even know who the people on those magazines are. Recently I saw an interview with a woman and the interviewer said "what does it feel like to be the world's most recognizable person?". I literally didn't know who it was. It turns out that it was Lady Gaga. I do know who she is but I guess I don't know what she looks like!

Speaking of Lady Gaga, there was a women's conference at our babysitter's private school and Lady Gaga performed at it. Maria Shriver's kids go the the school. Isn't that crazy? These are things that just happen in this city! Even though I don't really care about celebrities all that much I still felt the need to write to all of you about Maria Shriver's kids going to my babysitter's school! I'm practically famous!

I have decided that I would like to see a celebrity while we're in L.A. because it's such a truly L.A. experience. I think I might have seen the redheaded kid from the Harry Potter movies at the airport but David says it doesn't count because a) I don't know if it was him and b) he's not really famous. I definitely did see Vern, one of the designers from Trading Spaces but he's not famous enough either. The thing is, there are so many celebrities in this city it wouldn't actually take much effort for me to see one. Anyone can stand outside of a movie premiere to catch a glimpse of someone famous. I just don't think I can be bothered. I either have too much pride or too little energy, or both. Weston and Hillary (remember the fancy people from David's school?) told me that we just have to go to the Ivy which is the restaurant where all the celebrities go. Sounds expensive.

I guess I'll just wait and see if I happen to stumble upon a celebrity some time. I don't even know what I'd do if I did see someone. I would have too much pride to say something but David says that it doesn't count as a celebrity sighting if you don't confirm if it really is them. Hmmm.