Spontaneous, Extravagant Love

I really like Bob Goff.

If you don't know who he is, take a second to read THIS.

The thing that resonates with me about Bob (aside from the amazing things he's done as a humanitarian all over the globe)
is how he develops relationships. He tells a story of the time he and his young children mailed a copy of his key to international diplomats after the kids thought a slumber party might be a better way to sort out the tough issues of the world. I want to hand out my house key. Bob also put his phone number in his book. You can call Bob. Bob will answer the phone. I'm the worst at answering my phone.

This week I read a blog written by Bob on the Storyline Blog and it's quite possible that it has ruined my life permanently.
Let's hope. 
It's no Sermon on the Mount, it wasn't even directly written to me,
but he talked about letting our love be the thing that gets on everything-
our words, our actions, our interactions. We're not talking regular, everyday love.

We're talking spontaneous, extravagant love.

To be the kind of people who mail out our house keys.
To be the kind of people who others can call when they're having an emergency at 1 in the morning.
To be the kind of people who don't sit back and wait but pursue relationships without fear or risk.
I want to be that kind of person.

Love- an under-appreciated renewable resource. No need to hoard it.
But we do because of what people will think.
We do because what would happen if our schedules were inconvenienced?
To be that vulnerable, to think of others outside the context of ourselves, it's scary.
But what if that was the lasting mark of our lives?
If we were known for and therefore encouraged others to lead lives that weren't afraid of getting left behind as a result of loving other people beyond what they ever expected? I could get on board with that.

I've been thinking about that idea ever since. I've done a couple of little things in response.
Today Bob tweeted "When the doors are blocked, we lower our friends through roofs. It's Thursday, we can quit waiting. @lovedoes"

"It's Thursday, we can quit waiting."
So here is your fair warning.
It's time for spontaneous, extravagant love courtesy of me.
Don't be weirded out (or do) when I make you drink coffee with me or when I ask if I can take you to the airport or when I write you letters or make you go on a surprise road trip.
Reading back over that brief list, they don't all seem very extravagant.
I'll do some brainstorming.
Anyway, it's happening.

I love you very much and mostly I'm just sorry I didn't bombard you with that fact sooner.

Tuesdays Are For Inspiration

Since moving to Lala Land coincided with my getting an Instagram, I've started taking a lot more pictures. Now, I wish I could say my transition to the left coast was a smooth and beautiful one, filled with grace and peace. This is not the case, because I am a crazy person.

I have, however, been exceedingly fortunate to make some really great memories amidst the weeping and gnashing of teeth (mostly over parking in my neighborhood). Here they are.

May I present to you, my favorite Hollywood memories thus far:

First, I went to the Argo movie premiere. I sat a few feet from Ben Affleck as he shared about his new movie and the story behind it. His hands shook a little while he held the mic. Maybe it was because he was sickly that night? I'd like to think it was because he was nervous. I decided I wanted to be Ben Affleck when I grew up, nervous and excited to show my friends something I made until the day I die.

Elementary school was a highlight of my life, believe it or not. The people in this picture are two of my favorites from that time. Giorgio Rapicavoli and Nicole Andreu, I'm super glad I still know you and when we dig up our time capsule in 3 years, I hope Giorgio will still be serving Cap'n Crunch pancakes at his restaurant in Miami. (Eating House- check it out, foodies.)

Erin and I had our first LA showing of How to Like Yourself at the LA Film Studies Center thanks to the very wonderful Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran. Afterwards, two pooped girls were accompanied by two wonderful men (DJ Cabeen and John Rocca) to The Cat & Fiddle in Hollywood. Go there at night. It's beautiful.

Then it was my birthday so we went to a restaurant recommended by two chefs.

Son of a Gun has the best apple cider. And everything else on the menu. I dream about this place.

My final birthday gift was watching Dawn of the Dead in the Hollywood Forever cemetery. 

Movies about dead people surrounded by dead people? That's thinkin', people. 

Then Erin and I made it into the LA Comedy Fest. We were excited, to say the least.

Being far away from people you love means you have to get creative about keeping in touch. 

One of my favorite things is when Erin makes us all take pictures for a 555 photo collage.

This was a particularly excellent one.

(this picture of Jeremy, Derek and I might be my favorite in history)

Halloween is my favorite holiday and this was a good one!

There were lots of Avengers, large reptiles, and cartoon characters. 

I was almost an elephant.

One time Beau Wirick and I matched our clothes unintentionally.

Here is my favorite picture from the Christmas card shoot that ensued.

Erin and I go to a LOT of shows at UCB Theater. They're geniuses there. This picture is from a show called "Shitty Jobs" and it is my favorite by far. This evening, Erin got on stage and talked about her job as a valet. Then everyone in the audience peed their pants from laughing. Oh yeah, and Jean Ralphio is there. To say we don't have tickets to every Shitty Jobs show in December would be a lie.

Erin and I performed at the LA Comedy Fest! Thank you to all our precious friends for coming to see us. We love you a lot.

Then we won a donkey trophy for being the best Solo/Duo Live Comedy Group. That was all I ever wanted in life.

Arley came to visit us for two hours before driving a friend back across the country to Nashville. We wasted no time in taking her to our favorite Mexican restaurant (3 Dog Cantina) and taking more pictures than any of you care to look through. 

Here is only one of them. You're welcome.

We found a really excellent church in our neighborhood with a phenomenal staff and some crazy-talented members. 

Young, old, artsy, non-artsy, everyone. If you're ever in LA, come with me to Mosaic.

This was such a sweet Thanksgiving in California! And to think, I almost missed it because I just wanted to stay in my apartment, cry, and watch Love Actually. Enjoy these mock-family photos of me and my adopted parents.

The other night, I watched Claymation movies and Charlie Brown Christmas while making snowflakes with Lee Ellen Starks and Sheri Lake. Their house is a magical wonderland at the moment. Safe to say, we made about 400 snowflakes. Maybe less. Above are some of my favorites from our workshop.

So, fall in love. Take pictures. Be thankful. It's good for you.

Tuesdays Are for Inspiration

I have sworn upon the altar of God

eternal hostility against every form of

tyranny over the mind of men.

-Thomas Jefferson

Today is election day.
But every day is an opportunity to change how the world works.
Don't stop fighting for freedom.

Being Leslie Knope

borrowed from TV Fanatic

A long time ago before I'd ever watched a second of Parks and Rec, my friend Seth told me I reminded him of the show's main character Leslie Knope. That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said! I remind them of a lead character with her own show? Yes.

Dear world, think of me as this Leslie Knope, powerful woman of city government.
This means I'm cute like Amy Poehler.
I'm probably very funny.
I hang out with Aziz Ansari, a guy who talks about bacon and Jim's old girlfriend from The Office.
This is basically a mirror image of who I am in real life!
Anyone would be so lucky to be likened to Leslie.

Then I started watching Parks and Rec.
I was maybe two seasons in when I called Seth back.
I don't want to be Leslie Knope!
She's nerdy.
She doesn't realize Pawnee, Indiana is a dead end.
The guys she likes like everyone BUT her.
She only wears pant suits.
She's a super spaz and crazy embarrassing in serious, important situations.
She loves things that no one else cares about and doesn't realize it.
Leslie Knope sucks!

Seriously. It kind of hurt my feeling.
I told Seth that being Leslie Knope made me kind of want to die.
He said it shouldn't. That I should keep watching because everyone loves Leslie.

Good. Everyone loves the lovable idiot.
I'M A LOVABLE IDIOT.

But I did keep watching all the way to the most current episode.
In that time...

• Leslie covered when her employee Tom Haverford accidentally shot her boss Ron Swanson on a camping trip. 
• She worked it out with the local Native American tribe when a curse threatened to ruin the Pawnee Harvest Fest, a revived town tradition and her pet project.
• She wouldn't leave the police station until they released Tom Haverford when he was wrongly arrested for lurking.
• She threw a Sweet 16 birthday party for employee Jerry who was born on a leap year (then she forgot to invite him to it) and threw a fundraiser for Jerry's medical bills when he was put in the hospital for a heart attack (that she caused by scaring him as he came out of the restroom).
• She was elected to City Council with the help of her staff who all willingly sacrificed to help run her campaign.
• There were plenty more instances of Leslie saving Tom's life.

She is fiercely loyal to her best friend Ann Perkins.
She goes out of her way to give her friends and coworkers awesome gifts and surprises like doors that close via remote control and steak dinners in their office from their favorite steakhouse.
Leslie does that because, on top of all the other things she loves (Pawnee, Margaret Thatcher, the idea of one day being the President), Leslie loves her friends. She likes making them feel special and she never complains about the lengths she has to go. In fact, her actions tell you that everyone deserves to feel special at least on their birthdays or Christmas or when they get put into the hospital.

Honestly, I could fill this blog with stories of all the awesome things Leslie Knope's done that I've never even thought of doing.
She's thoughtful and brazen and dedicated even when she's incapacitated by nerves or the flu.
She's resilient. She is honest.
She absolutely cannot stand injustice and will fight it to the point of embarrassing herself.
The real testament- the things her friends are willing to do and endure because they love Leslie.
Yes, she is a little nerdy and she does wear pantsuits, but after 4.5 seasons of Parks and Rec, I think I'd be very lucky if I was anything like Leslie Knope.

Spoiler alert. In the last episode, her most darling boyfriend Ben came home and surprised her by proposing. It could all hit the fan in the very next episode, but for now, Leslie Knope has a good life with a good job she loves and good friends and a good boyfriend.

I'll take it. I'll be Leslie Knope every day of the week.


PS- Ben, I want to marry you too. Every day of the week.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The 555 is currently celebrating all our favorite holidays rapid fire over the nest two weeks.
Today is Valentine's Day and I'd like to dedicate it to my love, the pumpkin.

pumpkins

The Great Pumpkin!

Jack, the Pumpkin King

Hogwarts Pumpkin

It's time to carve

Dream come true

Crazy pumpkins

I need all of these

Dear pumpkin,
I love you. I've always loved you.
I'm glad it's fall even though I live in the desert now.
You're born from water and the desert don't know about water.
But I do.
And I love you.
Mazel tov.

So Much TV: Being Human

Once upon a time, I, like many other girls at the time, fell in love with Mimi-siku of Jungle to Jungle.
Yes. Jungle dreamboat.

But as soon as he entered our little hearts, he was gone again.
I guess after the massive Hollywood success that was Jungle to Jungle, you (Sam Huntington) really need to step back, re-evaluate and figure out what your priorities are.

(I take that back. After checking Wikipedia, it appears that Sam Huntington stayed busy with various film and TV roles. Just none I ever saw. Genuinely sorry, Sam.)

Anyway.
Then, out came Little Miss Sunshine and, if you are as dumb as I am, you saw the silent older brother and thought, "MIMI-SIKU IS BACK!!!".

Then I learned to use the internet and realized that wasn't my long-lost love, but in fact another actor named Paul Dano.

But this really is Sam Huntington. And he really is on TV!

I just watched the first two seasons of Being Human, the American version of a BBC show that now airs on Syfy. If you, like me, grew up with brothers and a dad, you are well acquainted with Syfy and you know how much of their programming has been long dominated by the Stargate, Battlestar Galactica and movies about large amounts of scary animals terrorizing towns (especially alligators, sharks and snakes).

But Being Human is about a werewolf, vampire and ghost all trying to live like normal humans in Boston while fighting the urge to kill innocent bystanders or burn down houses with poltergeist activity.  Sam Huntington plays a werewolf, but I think they got a real vampire to play the vampire part.

Sure. Sam Witwer isn't a vampire. Just like David Boreanaz isn't a vampire named Angel playing an actor David Boreanaz who happened to play a character named Angel. If you can believe that, I have some quality swampland to sell you in Florida.

Anyway- super riveting show? I don't know about that. The characters are darling (if you don't mind not knowing why the vampires can walk around in the sunlight without burning up or twinkling) and the premise certainly is clever. What if multiple classic nightmares all lived under one roof? They might work at a hospital. They might have to figure out how to maintain the little bit of humanity they have left by having family dinner and Neighborhood Watch meetings in their living room. They might also get visited by Jacob from Lost (who is also a vampire boss named Bishop). 

So if you have time and you miss your favorite jungle boy and you want to laugh and maybe be a little sentimental and not think too hard about how a werewolf could 1) find woods in Boston and 2) not kill so many people every full moon whilst running free in them, then you, like me, will like Being Human.

(PS- Yay Sally the Ghost, for dying in such a comfortable yet decent pajama ensemble. If I died in my pajamas, I'd be a ghost wearing polka dot shorts, a too-big tanktop with teeny hearts in colors that do not match my shorts and a sloppy top knot. And maybe just one sock on my left foot. Again, I don't know why. My right foot just has a mind of it's own. All that to say, no one would want to be haunted by me, even the people who loved me.)

Things I Love: Tumblrs of Girls You Should Know

Right now I don't have a job, other than the one I gave myself.
Currently, I'm the CEO of MeLissa Gavarrette Industries.
I'm very pleased with my employee's performance.
Back on track.

So I get to spend a lot of time on the internet.
You might not be afforded that same luxury, but you're in luck.
MeLissa Gavarrette Industries is providing you the invaluable resource of helping you include the middle man and telling you about some awesome things to spend inordinate amounts of time with when you should be doing other things. Like cleaning your house. Or spending quality time with your loved ones.

Things I Love on the Internet: Tumblrs of Girls You Should Know

The other day I saw a tweet from BJ Novak (honestly, I'm a little afraid of him. Why? Moreso because of The Office than Inglorious Bastards.) In this tweet, he mentioned a certain @sofifii. That would be Sophia Rossi, 1/3 of the brilliance that is HelloGiggles. But I didn't know that yet. So I clicked on her name. Then, I knew that.
And three days later I have read a lot of stuff by a lot of girls I think you should know, including:

1. Sofia's Tumblr. Really. Go. I feel like I know a lot more relevant things including how to be a better girl and how to make a job out of doing fun things with my friends.
2. Another 1/3 of HelloGiggles, Molly McAleer. She also writes for "2 Broke Girls" and takes pictures of her dog that make me feel like I've really been holding back when it comes to pictures of Roman and Ripley.
3. If you want to know how to better invest your money in things you will actually love, Mindy Kahling's tumblr is your best friend. Let her help you be cute.
4. If you still don't know how to be cute after ALL THAT, Zooey Deschanel's tumblr. Try. Just TRY and not be cute after that. (Don't try. Why would you try that?)

Are there more tumblrs belonging to more girls you should know? For sure.

This is my company and I'll decide how to run it.

If you just blow through these blogs, then visit HelloGiggles and read tons of articles and nuggets of wisdom by lots of other lady writers, including baby blogger Maude Apatow (who's dad brought us the likes of "40 Year Old Virgin" and who's mom brought us the glorious Ursula of "George of the Jungle". You decide which is the bigger achievement.)(Ursula.)

I'll bring you more internet gems later, but not right now because I have to go buy Keihl's face wash, red lipstick and a cute dress with polka dots. You'll understand after you visit a few pages of the aforementioned tumblrs. 

You're welcome.