Pasadena Chalk Festival 2011

Interviewing David, Artist.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to work with MyLocalBuzzTV to host a show for the Paseo Colorado Shopping Center in Pasadena, CA.  This particular episode was about the 19th annual Pasadena Chalk Festival.  Over 600 artists participated and graced the sidewalks of Pasadena with the most beautiful chalk art I have ever seen and over 100,000 spectators attended!  It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest display of Chalk Art.
I walked around for hours with my head staring at the concrete totally floored by the masterpieces that would be washed away by the rain and wind within days. How sad and freeing at the same moment.

I spoke to people from all over the world, the artists themselves and admirers of the art alike.  One Japanese man chalked a perfect, blonde, lifelike cherub praying with a peaceful dove floating above her. He dedicated it to Japan and asked for donations to help them rebuild. It was gorgeous. Another young 11 year old little lady named Kimberly delicately painted her favorite story on the sidewalk, Alice in Wonderland. Right next to her father's Chalk Art titled, "The Last Kiss"- he was a veteran of the festival and won awards for his use of color.
These dedicated artists toiled on their hands and knees for two days straight to entertain our eyes for a weekend. We had the chance to see each work of art progressed, the process was incredible. So many layers to each piece as well as each artist.

My favorite part of the day was hanging with the kids at the KidsChalk Corner.  One little girl really blew my mind....Delilah.
I thought she was shy.
Lovely 5 year old Delilah she was just sitting quietly waiting her turn to color and have a giggle with me. The other kids were practically pushing each other out of the way to get in front of the camera.  She was patient, not shy. I was mistaken.
Well, she sure showed me. Delilah gave me a TERRIFIC interview. Great sound bites and some fantastic footage. She was fun and silly and funny and smart and sweet.   We created chalk dolls and I wish I could've stayed with her longer.

The photo above was taken by a gentleman who attended the festival and tweeted it!  The power of social networking.  I love action shots, and this is one of me at work. So Thanks bud! I rarely get candid shots like this of my work.
David the artist, excuse me for not remembering his last name, created a chalk piece that had a Mexican flair! His son was depicted playing an accordion and his nephew was playing this other interesting instrument. They were floating above an open heart, half cartoon, half realistic heart. David knew and wanted everyone around him to see how important music was in his life and the lives of his family members, it is their epi-center- their beating heart.

What a fantastic day! I will definitely go next year as a spectator if I am not working the event. When I get the footage I will post it here for y'all to see!

Ohhhh YEAH!

DO NOT MESS WITH CAVALLI

"Joo wanna play rough?! Okay! Shay ello to my lil frien!!!!!"

I went to college in the Bronx, NY and literally heard gun shots every night lulling me to sleep but other than that I have never really been close to a gun before.

 This weekend friends and I ventured to the gun range. I almost chickened out when I stepped out of the car. The sound was deafening and  Nervous Nelly over here jumped every time there was a loud pop.

First up was skeet shooting with a 20 gage.  I desperately needed help loading the thing. I became very "girly" all of a sudden and quite nervous. Not a good combo.

I thought my fingers may get caught while loading the shells because the metal snaps back so quickly. My friend, Biddy, assisted me and instructed me as so....

"just slide it in..like a tampon."

Only then did I truly understand the process.

So I was loaded. (loaded gun, not loaded wasted) Safety was off and I was prepared to yell, "PULL!"

I managed not to hit one flying orange skeet all day.

I did manage to bruise my shoulder, face and deafen my ears.

Boy, was it worth it.

The power behind that machine is unfathomable. The fact that human beings can go to a range as such and pay 20 bucks to "rent" a giant powerful man and beast killing machine, then you are driven up into the woods and they just leave you on the mountain top, 

absolute INSANITY.

Aside from how totally not okay it is that our society allows this, it was SO fun.

Then came the handguns.

I HIT a target the first time I pulled that darn trigger.

Handguns are way more my speed.

How bad ass is that pic?

SO Charlie's Angels.

I could totally play a cop on TV.

Although I was petrified at first I was pretty proud of  myself in the end. To be honest it really put the power of these instruments into real perspective. How they get into the hands of children is unfathomable. How anyone thinks its fair to "hunt" an animal with a shotgun is gross. There is absolutely no "fair game" in that. Put a spear in your hand and ride beside the beast on a horse and then I will agree that you have the natural right to hunt for food.

OK, getting off the soapbox now.

Follow up: to addiction.

THE MAGNUM

Whomever came up with this idea is a genius. I literally picked it out of the freezer at the supermarket unconsciously. It was as if I was a zombie and Mr. King Ralph chief CEO of the ice chests called out to my subconscious to buy it.

Or maybe it was just my hormones.

It is a chocolate ice cream bar called Magnum....Double Chocolate. and the box's description is...

"Chocolate Ice Cream dipped in a Chocolatey Coating, Chocolatey Sauce, and Belgian Milk Chocolate"

HUH?????

Sex Bomb on a stick Tom Jones take that!

When women hear the infamous word Magnum they think....

H U G E.

Pain.

Only select few.

Many women never experience a Magnum.

But now every woman can.

A massive hunk of frozen deliciousness that will satisfy your ever desire.

When I first busted open the opulent package I danced around with one of the 3 Magnums inside....I held it between my legs and romped about as if I was a 13 year old with a dangling hose, or in reality a grown woman thoroughly embarrassing herself in front of her younger beau.

He had to tell me to stop.

I was so anxious and thrilled I could not help myself.

Finally a Magnum you won't gag on.

Addiction?

I had a thought today...could I be addicted to chocolate?
I love it. I have to have a little, or a lot every single day.
When I had a chocolate ice cream pop for dinner last night I decided I needed to take a closer look at my situation.
Today I pranced into my kitchen singing like Mary Poppins. I opened all of my cupboards and my fridge so that I could see just how much chocolate inhabited my home.

This is the result:

 Hagen Daaz, numerous types of Reese's, cakes,

Hershey kisses, cookies, Easter eggs, cake,

Junior mints,  Dove bars, Lions Bars, Susans,

Hob Nobs (British) etc etc etc etc.

Here's a closer look.......

Does it look more manageable from a different angle?

No. DRAT!

Basically I filled the entire counter space with sweets. HOLY MOLY!
I SHOULD be embarrassed. Operative word here is should.

And this was the healthy stuff in my fridge:

A half eaten avocado, cherry tomatoes and a lemon.
If the world were to end I could sustain myself and the village of Studio City, CA on chocolate.

Nothing is More Funner.

HUZZAH!!!!! Our Knight of the Joust, Britannia's Knight WINS for his wenches!
(So what he is closing his eyes. It was bright out. He still beat the other dudes)

The Renaissance Fair.
I suggest everyone go.
Immediately.
It is amazing.
I have been quite a few times to the Faire, Fair whatevers...in NY. Last weekend I went with friends to the one here in Socal.
We basically guzzled beer and cider, launched spears, threw axes, cheered, laughed, screamed, taunted witches, fed the geese, and ate enough meat pies for the village of Cornwall.
Anyone who dares to make fun of people that go to the Ren Fair are L A M E O S.

The Queen's Beer. Old Beer. Really Old.

Yes. My undies are pink. Now, Look at the damn spear!

Just casually chatting about the Reformation with a man in a dress.

Alas, the lady is sad the day is over!

GO TO THE RENAISSANCE FAIR. 

HUZZAH! Long Live the Queen.

Dear Diary, Who is Mr X?

I have had a request by a reader for more. So more I will bring you! (said with a British accent)

I was petrified that my mother would read my diary. I did NOT want her to see the salacious things I was admitting to.  Apparently I didn't think that putting a list of explanations or codes on the inside cover would throw her off the scent.
I clearly thought Vicki was a total idiot when I was 10.
I was the idiot because as I grew older I slowly learned that my Mother knew everything. Like EVERYTHING. She was freaking psychic.
She knew what alcohol I drank- even after I threw it up, who I was out with and what time I snuck out of the house.
Here is a photo of Karla's Brilliant Diary Key:

notice the beautiful cursive.

Yup- that says.....Mr X = domonic
My readers.....They are one in the same.
Like "Mr Big" before Carrie/the writers came up with that iconic term.
I was way ahead of my time.
It also describes how my diary broken up into 3 sections via page color was:
yellow- regular section/everyday
green- private
red (pink)- problems



AT 10, IN 1986 I HAD PROBLEMS. YEAH.
I also had stuff that was "private".
I also thought I may forget who I was referring to when I wrote about Mr X because with the plethora of  boys mentioned I may get confused.
Tramp.

Dominic was the new kid and I had to make him my boyfriend.  He had gorgeous black curly hair that had me in lust instantly. I love men with black curly hair to this day because of him.  Of course I NEVER let on that I liked the cocky kid. It would ruin my bad ass, tough girl rep. I wasn't going for the lesbian thing but friends tell me I was a bully and the "block protector" so I went with it.

Below is the excerpt from an event with Dominic:


June 2, 1986
Dear Diary,
Sorry I wrote so late but now I'm going to write in you every day. Even at camp.
Now to talk about more exciting things. 
A few weeks ago Mr. X winked at me and challenged ME, the fastest runner in the class
to a race!!!!
I just cannot believe that he didn't show up.
But neither did I.
Karla

So modest.
and so weird.
Who taught him to wink at girls? Probably Dominic's grandpa and it sure worked on me.

From a young age I was quite the athlete.  I am also an Aries with Leo rising and born in the year of the Dragon so I am INSANELY competitive. Probably the worst combo ever for a woman any man would ever want to be involved with hence the lesbian vibe.

I took Dominic's challenge.  At a later date we both decided to actually show up. We met after school in the parking lot and I beat his ass. Unfortunately besting my one true love in front of the entire 2nd grade wasn't the thing that was going to win his heart. I embarrassed him thoroughly.
I distinctly remember lunging down on the rough, hot blacktop. Placing my hands on the gravel preparing to fly through the alleyway the crowd made for us. I could hear my breathing... heavy because curlyboy was super close to me.
I was nervous. I was fast though. Really fast.
Running from the cops/gangs/ mean, older sister of my best friend Danielle honed my skills. 'Steal the Bacon' helped a lot with my training as well.
My muscles tensed....my converse were sliding and trying to grip the floor for take off.....Stray blonde hairs escaped from my headband and flew in my eyes obstructing my view of the chain link fence in front of me that I HAD to touch first.
I had to.
I had to impress him.
I had to make him finally see me as something other than a ponytail to pull. The surrounding kids cheered for their respective favorites. That's what we did in Queens, NY. We raced on foot for glory in the parking lot after school. I was challenged by a BOY.
One that I longed for....I had no choice, no other option.
I had to win.

I won the race.
I lost the boy.

Hiding behind a coy giggle was not my version of flirting.
Whooping his ass and emasculating him was.

Its okay. Don't fret.
Mr X eventually moved to Florida and John, the Greek came along.

The British Invasion

FORGET the royal wedding! My grandma is guest bartending! My little brother decided to make the above flyer for her big night tonight! Apparently the more people she packs in the bar the better her chances of winning the bartending challenge and the grand prize of 500 bucks. Clearly my Nanny, which we so adoringly call her, has a young spirit.