My Wizard

It was about 3:30am.  I had just gotten back to the hostel after a night of drinking at Saddle Ranch to find someone sleeping in my bed and all my stuff gone.  I was hysterical and in tears.  It was my first night EVER in a hostel and I was just not having it.  I was arguing with the guy at the front desk but he wasn't helping, he just wanted to move me to another hostel. Then you walked in, black pants and your red button-up shirt, for some reason I felt so relieved seeing another person walk in, it's like I knew at that moment everything would be okay.
You asked if I was alright and I said not really.  I told you the situation.  You looked at me and then at the guy at the front desk and said "give her a blanket and a pillow and we will work this out in the morning." He tried arguing with you but you said it again and he gave up and handed me a blanket and pillow. "You can stay with me tonight so no worries. This is all part of traveling, so don't stress, we will work it out in the morning."
I felt a little akward lying in your bed,  you were in nothing but boxers and kept talking about how you had been doing the shuffle all night.  "What is this Australian guy talking about?" I kept thinking LOL.  We lay there for a bit when I said "I can't sleep."  "I have a bottle of rum.  We can go downstairs for some drinks if you want" was your reply.
So we headed downstairs for some late night drinks.  We talked quite a bit, in fact I don't think we ran out of stuff to talk about.  We laughed and flirted and then crawled back into your bed and finally went to sleep.
I slept in your bed every night after that.  We talked about anything and everything.  You told me about your travels and the adventures you had.  I told you why I had come out to LA. We watched movies, listened to music, we talked about family, careers, relationships,  there were no boundaries to what we talked about.  We would stay up till the sun came up every morning or until one of us (usually me) would fall asleep mid story or movie.
At the end of that first month you asked me to move in with you. Steve had a room and we could move in with in two days and you wanted me to go with you.  I didn't even have to think about it.  I said yes with no hesitation.  I was so scared to move in with you.  I had never lived with a guy before,  I was really nervous.  We didn't even have time to talk about because you worked the next two days.  The night we moved in I told you I was nervous, that I had never done this before.  You said neither had you but we were in this together and just wrapped your arms around me.
I spent the best five months of my life with you - late night talks, Jenny's drink, teaching you how to cook,  NetFlix, True Blood (we never got to finish it), beef jerky and raspberry snapple every night in bed,  our little cocoon, stealing the blankets (it was all you), the light fairy, the Melbourne Shuffle, teaching me the Melbourne Shuffle, the many many nights in the party room, "doing laundry", almost getting kicked out for "doing laundry", MoMo, Lady GaGa, Anzac day, Yo Momma jokes with D, hustling to get a private room, "the other couple", tickets, stealing tickets (you better win me something good), Kino (our favourite restaurant), quitting smoking, thinking you can drink me under the table (my mom is waiting for the challenge), our late night drinking sessions in our room at the apartment,  seeing the sun come up almost every morning, snuggling,  late nights (the favourite part of my day), naps,  "Emmie what do you do in the morning?" how are you up so early, calling me a cradle snatcher, having completely different taste in clothing, CUNT lol, our little family - Justo, Dallas, you and me, "I am Vampire," Metro trivia which I am still planning on beating you at, always moving on Ryan time lol its so true, never being able to get anywhere at a good time, Minute to Win It, Judge Judy, getting kicked off of Judge Joe Brown, Kesha - do you ever wonder if P. Diddy wakes up feeling like Kesha?, Steve's obsession with Alice in Chains,  The Rooster song,  kill Justo's rooster, never wanting to eat chicken again, waiting for the bus at 4am after work at Hollywood and Highland drinking a bottle of rum, Spike aka RJ, Queen Victoria, Victoria, Chiller (the wet lizard), a 16 bedroom dorm room,  smelly socks, all our stuff getting stolen, the Usher Party - I have to use my visa it's an emergency we need more drinks $160 later, bed bugs, bed bugs and more bed bugs, losing the apartment, Vegas - the best birthday ever, hustling for free limo rides, the awful bus drivers, getting dorkified, our day trips ending up being just us hanging out and drinking, night time tears,  the dreaded hostel cough that I gave to everyone, hat wars, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, R, Y, A, N, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, haha you started that one, being on our last dollar and still managing to get by, smelling our socks to see which ones can still be worn lol man that got so bad, your Australianims - jumper, singlet, oi, Mackers, toilet. Being unstoppable, realizing you actually have curly hair, baby oil, conditioner, Bubba Gump's,  never making it to the Tar Pits, me being horrible with money, me accidentally locking you out and you banging on the wrong window and the woman thought you were a peeping Tom lol too funny but I felt so horrible, a king size bed made from to different sized mattresses so in the end sleeping on one mattress, buying you new sheets and head testing your new pillows, pool days ending up in you trying to throw me in the pool, taking care of me when I'm not feeling well, you getting a membership at a gay gym and coming home with stacks of business cards from all the guys there, my southern twang accent you like so much, your british accent, telling travelers at the hostel I was a penguin trainer, SYNERGY, business plans that go just as fast as they came,  Dallas coming home wasted and spitting all night, Justo with his swollen eyes, earthquakes, me getting my miracle, my Paris Hilton Pefume, babe can I use your razor?  Emmie can I use your hair mousse?  Vikram's scissors, getting through the toughest times, growing as a person, sharing every waking and sleeping moment with someone (not always easy but we did it), never knowing what a song is called or who it's by even though you were a DJ, you branding me with the Australian flag, I always managed to find your hand and slip mine in it,  trying to buy me pepper spray,  you eating pretzels and jerky in bed,  grape fights and waking up to them in my hair, pinning me up against a chain link fence until I kissed you,  my very own Harry Potter (you never did show me any wizard tricks I'm thinking you glamoured me), "Emmie, Ryan have you seen my towel, oh wait I found it" "DONT USE THAT TOWEL!!!",  who was that guy that came into the room that night it wasn't Justin, Lopedawg, Em Dawg and Hawt Dawg, Leo Dicaprio, Twilight, Justin and his spray tan lol I did a bad job he looked like a Zebra, your house on the hill, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, dry noodles, talking to me in your sleep, calling me turtle and then I lost my shell and you called me a slug and then said sea turtle because they are cuter,  being your heating blanket and calling me a Polar Bear, Mother Hen, tocitos at 3am (bad idea),  Massive Attack, Air, La Roux, hookers in Vegas thinking I was working you, Zietgiest and remembering your dreams...I hope I didn't forget anything.
These past five months have been incredible.  We went through hell and high water together and I would not take a second of it back.  It wasn't always easy, you went through your depression and I went through dealing with Max stuff, but we supported each other no matter what.
It was harder not living with you then it was living with you.  It was more of a struggle but we got through that too.  We wouldn't let anything or anyone tear us down.  We were in it together no matter what.
 You have taught me so much about myself these past few months. When we met I was heart broken and wanting close myself off to the world and others. I tried to be bulletproof but you wouldn't let me. Bit by bit everyday you listened and let me be me with no judgment calls.  You showed me what it's like to have what I deserve in life.  You made me feel beautiful again inside as well as out, that I'm strong and I can take on anything life throws at me. You always say your a lucky man but I consider myself a lucky woman.  Lucky to have someone in my life like you and share with you what we shared.  There are no words to describe what you mean to me or what we had together means, I can try to explain but I know you could look in my eyes and understand because with you I don't always need to say it you just know.  For the first time in my life I actually felt worthy of something so incredible that always seemed just out of my reach and you took my hand and shared the beauty with me.  It was like everything I shared with you was the first time I shared it with anyone, like everything we were doing was the first time for both of us.  I grew up so much and can stand on my own two feet now, no matter what comes at me.
I watched you grow from this "Cool guy" who always needed to prove something to people and  himself what he what he believed in,  a guy who needed a five year plan to feel settled and comfortable in life into a man who knows what his beliefs are and he doesn't need to prove them anymore because he knows where he stands with himself.  A man that still wants a five year plan but it's ok to stop and smell the roses and take things day by day.  A man that knows as people we aren't perfect and we make mistakes and it's ok, and a man who realized it's ok to let your feelings take over sometimes.
I never thought you would fall in love with me.  I tried so hard not to but I finally let go of my fears and let it happen.  Loving someone and them loving you back is an amazing feeling and when we both finally let go it was so beautiful and I will always hold on to it.
Saying goodbye to you last week was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Then you showed up at the hostel to say goodbye one last time. You are my best friend, my family and my lover and I miss you like crazy, but maybe this is just another challenge for us.  We never went two weeks without something coming up and biting us but no matter what we got through it.  Nothing ever broke us, nothing ever knocked us down,  together we are unstoppable and no matter what happened we just seemed to get stronger and closer...closer then either of us ever thought.  It's hard not having my best friend around,  who is going to pick me up when I'm down, who is going to be in bed waiting to hear about my day,  who is going to sit and talk about nothing all night but yet it's the most important conversation.  You get me Ryan, and I have never had that.  You got the real me, shell gone and all and I don't regret it.
I miss you so much but know we will see each other again soon.  Just remember who you are and don't lose sight of that, and when in doubt I gave you my world so just hold on to it.
 I would sleep with you in a box in a ten year dream.
I love you
Turtle
xoxox

Celebrity Sighting #13 and #14

Last night Ryan his mom and I went to the Arclight theatre to go see Inception - of course because Ryan loves Leo and was super stoked after seeing him at the movie premiere last week.
When we got there both Ryan and his mom had to go to the toilet so I waited in the lineup to get popcorn and soda.  I noticed this couple beside me.  She was pregnant and he had his arms wrapped around her bulging belly.  I smiled to myself and thought of how beautiful this picture was.  I really wasn't paying attention to them,  I mean I was but not who they were,  I noticed his style, their wedding bands, she was pretty and how he just held on to her they just really brought a smile to my face.
I was looking over my shoulder for Ryan and his mom when I made eye contact with the guy and he got this look on his face like he was pissed off that I looked directly at him.  I thought it was a little weird - but things are weird in Hollywood so it was nothing new.  He looked really familiar,  I was wondering where I knew him from, and then it came to me.  I stole a another glance hoping he wouldn't notice just to make sure.  It was James Van Der Beek with wife Heather Mccomb (I had no idea who she was until I just googled him to make sure he was married and I didn't make another celebrity mistake lol).  Being here for five months I have learned to keep my cool,  I was so tempted to take out my iPhone and snap a picture but after that evil stare he gave me I didn't think a picture was the best way to go. Oh Hollywood how I love thee.
The movie was great.  Actually it was better then great, it was mind blowing go see it, one of the best movies I have seen in a really long time!!!

Paulywood and a Dirty 30 in Vegas! and sighting #10

I know it has been a super long time but so much has been going on that I haven't had much time to write a blog. I have been super busy with my adventure here and have a lot to write so get comfortable.
Ok to start...about the second week of June Ryan and I got asked to leave the apartment.  It was too many people (4 people to a one bedroom) and just to loud all the time.  We had one week to move.  Ryan's mom was coming in from Australia so they were heading to Arizona and Paul was flying in for my Bday and then we were off to Vegas, so a week was really tight.  Ryan ended up staying with his mom when she got here so he was out on the Tuesday.  It was so upsetting.  This was the first time in 4 months that we had to spend 4 days apart.  LOL corny I know but it was really weird.  I had to sleep by myself haha.  Anyways it was okay because Paul flew out on the Wednesday for my Bday.
We had a blast.  It was so good to see him.  I couldnt stop touching his face lol. He said I talk really funny,k that I have an American accent now with Aussie slangs (all Ryan's fault) plus he thinks I have turned into a hardened bitch.  It's true my attitude has changed since living in Hell Aye.  He said I used to be so sweet now I'm mean LOL I guess we will see what you all think when I get back. The Thursday we did an LA City Tour.  It's a mini van with no roof and they take you all through LA to see famous peoples houses.  It was pretty awesome. We saw the houses of Doctor Phil (which was my favourite), Christina Aqguilara, Eddie Murphy, Playboy Mansion,  Michael Jackson, Julia Roberts - sometimes her kids are outside selling lemonade.  It's cheap lemonade too apparantly,  why would the children of a celebrity sell cheap lemonade you ask?  Because THEY DON'T KNOW SHE IS FAMOUS!!! I know right!  How weird is that.  We went by Courney Cox's house,  our tour guide said that "she doesn't seem to nice, that when they go by with the tour bus if she is outside she doesn't even wave, that she seems a little mean"  just as he said that we here from the front door "THATS RIGHT!" lol she heard him over the speaker too funny.
The next day Paul took me to universal studios.  Soo much fun.  We booked it through the hostel so we got a shuttle out there and back.  It was such a beautiful day out too so it really helped.  We went through the house of horrors which was sets and stuff from horror movies.  I HATED IT!!! Yes I know I am a horror movie buff and I always watch them, it doesn't mean I like to be in them.  They had people jumping out at us and werewolves,  frankenstein, crazy people with chainsaws, I screamed the whole way through and Pauly laughed histerically the whole way through.  We enjoyed Krustyland from the Simpsons, the best ride in the whole park, we even got to me Bart and Lisa.  We did the famous Tram Ride of the Studios which was super cool my favourite part,  we got to go through WhoVille!!! I was so excited. I was like " Pauly I always wanted to go to WhoVille"  It's really cool how all the buildings are totally fake and how in the movies they look so real.  They have one area that looks European city and all they have to do is change the language of the signs.  They show how they can flood a town and when they make it rain the put powdered milk in the water so it shows up better on camera.
We also did the Jurassic Park ride which was awesome, now I know where all the dinosaurs are living.  We did the Mummy's Tomb.  This awesome inside rollercoaster in the dark and then all of a sudden it goes backwards.  I screamed the whole way and shut my eyes until I realized opened or closed it still looked the same lol. We got back that day totally bagged and tired from the past two days but thought lets party.  I had moved into the hostel for the night because I had to be out of the apartment and we were leaving the next day.
I was so hurting the next day.  We drank till all hours of the morning and had to be up by 7am to go to the Greyhound for 9am.
So we get on the Greyhound and head to Vegas!  We had to transfer in Downtown LA.  Worst Greyhound experience of my life.  The bus was late meaning we boarded and left late.  Once we got on the bus I asked the bus driver if we were still going to arrive on time "I don't know maam"  "Well I am just wondering because we are running 20 minutes late"  "SO WHAT I'M LATE.  DO YOU WANT TO GET OFF THIS BUS RIGHT NOW AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE! I HAVE NO PROBLEMS REMOVING YOU FROM THIS BUS.  I CAN'T FLY THIS BUS"  " I know that but your still late, what is your name?" "YOUR THIS CLOSE TO GETTING KICKED OFF SO EITHER BE QUIET OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED"   Can you believe that we hadn't even left the station.  The woman infront of me was just mortified she took down a bunch of info and was lodging a complaint.  Thats not all.  There were these two girls laughing on the bus and all of a sudden our Lionel Richie looking bus driver says "EXCUSE I LIKE THAT YOUR HAVING FUN BUT THAT IS TOO MUCH AND YOU ARE DISTRACTING PLEASE STOP LAUGHING"  oh it gets better.  We had a half hour stop and he starts talking about at 3hundred hours this and that, like we were in the army.  "If you are late and you knock on the door i will not open it for you"  Well lucky for everyone we all made it back early and on time.  As we get back out on the road again he comes on the speaker and says "PLEASE REMEMBER WHEN SPEAKING IT'S TO THE PERSON BESIDE, IF I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU ARE TALKING TOO LOUD"  I had enough at this point. I was shaking I was so mad.  We finally arrive in Vegas and 10 minutes early for that matter.  As I am getting off the bus he wanted to just move something so I wouldnt scratch my leg and as he is moving it he saids "I am going to move this so you don't hurt your knee I don't want you talking bad about a brother"  I started laughing " Oh, don't you worry I am lodging a complaint about you!" He didn't like this too much he started yelling at me across and cussing at me across the parking lot and then had the odasity and unprofessionalism to stand there and talk about me with employees of Greyhound.  I was so mortified, I couldn't stop shaking and I was so embarrassed.  ONe of the girls on the bus said she couldn't believe the treatment he gave to everyone on the bus and was going to lodge a complaint.  I haven't yet but I am hoping for a refund and some sort of credit as I am planning and traveling with them very soon and am second guessing their company.
Anyways!!! We finally get to our resort an hour after we got dropped off at the station.  THE FLAMINGO.  Our room was awesome, on the 25th floor with floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the resort.  The location of the resort was awesome too right in the center of the strip.   Ryan and his mom were meeting us out in Vegas.  They were staying at Circus Circus.  Ryan said they wanted to do dinner with us and then we could go out.
It was so good to see him.  I really missed him.  You don't really realize how close you are with someone and how much time you spend with them until you spend a few days apart.  Well his mom and him wanted to go to The Steakhouse for dinner for my Birthday!  My most favourite restaurant.  Mmmmmm it was so good.  The best prime rib in the world, I can still taste it.  I was sucking on the fat just to get every last bit of meat off haha.  After dinner we walked back to our resort.  His mom taps me on the shoulder and said "it's midnight" and gave me the biggest mom hug in the world.  It was so awesome!!!
We got back to the resort and his mom said goodbye and we began to enjoy the bottles of rum and vodka we had in our room.  Our buddy Ben - that we had met in Vegas in March (check out Our Arrival - Vegas) - came by and had a few drinks and left around 3 am.  Pauly passed out so Ryan and I decided to go next door to O'sheas - my favourite bar.  I left my ID in my room so the guy wouldnt serve me so we ended up just going back up to the room and calling it a night.
The next day we decided to spend the day at the pool and just chill.  There was the huge lagoon pool with a water slide which is beautiful but infested with under agers and kids and then there is the 21 and over pool which was $15 to get into (for the guys).  It was worth every penny.  A DJ all day,  a party in the pool,  big huge flamingo's surround the pool on pillars that shoot little waterfalls into the pool, free drinks, a couch area with a hookah, a bar, hot weather and all the palm trees had misters on them that sprayed out mist all day long to keep you cool.  I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my birthday.  My best buddy and the most important person in my life right now and thats all i needed and to top it off Paul and Ryan are like peas and carrots.  They got along so well it was disgusting, it almost scared me lol but it was great.  I called my mom, it was my first birthday without her so I got a little teary eyed when I got off the phone but the party and the drinks helped.  We danced, we did the crab, the lobster and the dolphin, we drank, sang and just had an all around good time.
Ryan had to leave around 2 to go meet up with his mom.  He was so wasted he could barley walk straight LOL plus his shoes were up in the room and he refused to get them and wouldn't take my flip flops.  "Babe I will walk in barefeet I will be fine.  I will see you tonight"  kissed me and stubbled out of the pool area. Well turns out the pavement was so hot his feet blistered and he had to buy some flip flops lol, what a dork.  HIs mom didn't even know he was drunk, I have no idea how he pulled that off.
Paul and I ended up passing out in the room till about 11 that night, we were so bagged from the sun and drinking all day. We were barley up to going out but we got ready and started having a few drinks.  Ryan got back to our resort at about 230am and we headed out to the bar we always end up at the Piano Bar at New York New York.  So much fun.  We all dressed up and just sat and drank Red Bull Vodka all night.  It helped me as I wasn't feeling well, I had a bit of sun stroke so I was a little nauceous but the drinks helped.
Around 5am this girl comes strolling in and Paul said "watch this, she is working, watch what she does"  well he was right she was working "hooked a guy and they left walked into the casino but didnt get passed there because he walked away.  So she comes back and she starts chatting up Paul.  Oh god I'm thinking how are we going to get her to leave.  She was so trying to hustle him and get him to leave and then asks him if I was working Ryan!!! She thought I was a hooker!!! She honestly thought I was trying to work Ryan!!! I may have been dressed sexy but I was definatly dressed nice and did not look like a hooker.  How rude LOL!
We got up and left and when we got outside the sun was up and we realized it was like 7am and I am starting to feel better and ready to party.  As we are walking out a limo pulls up and I said "awww you showed up.  It's my bday did you forget to pick me up"  Well apparantly all the hustling I have learned on my adventure paid off because next thing you know we have a free limo ride back to our resort.  FUCKING AWESOME!  Perfect end to a perfect day.
Ryan left the next day and Paul and I went down to the pool.  We didnt stay too long as it was hot and I still wasn't feeling well. We really just slept and hung out all day and I had to leave the  next day.
I said goodbye to Paul and Ben drove me to the Greyhound station again.  Thank god my ride back was awesome I had no one beside me so I could stretch out and the driver was an angel compared to the last guy.
We still hadn't found an apartment so Ryan booked us back into the Bungalow in a 16 bed dorm LOL a lot of people but way cheaper then the other rooms.
Well Vegas made me broke.  Flat broke.  I could afford one night at the hostel and nothing more. Not a meal not even a ride back home.  Ryan and I talked the next day and decided that I needed to call home and ask my parents if they could buy me a ticket so I could come home.  We laid on the bed for awhile. I was bawling my eyes out.  We said our goodbyes to each other.  It was so sad.  I didnt wan't to let go of him.  He dragged me off the bed and said I'm taking you for dinner for our last meal.  "Okay, lets go to Mr. Pizza.  If the owner is in I can talk to him about work I dropped my info off yesterday maybe there is hope"
We get there and the owner wasn't in.  So we sat down at the table completely sad and depressed and talked about everything from the when we met up until now.  "Remember when I almost had to go home,  it was after the rave and I was broke and I almost had to leave?"  "Ya" I said "but then your phone rang and the smoke shop was calling you to tell you you got the job and you started the next day!  It was your miracle and you got to stay"  "Ya it was pretty cool"  " I'm still waiting for my miracle, I'm not ready yet to leave" I said. Just then at that exact moment my phone rang.  It was the owner of Mr Pizza telling me I got the job and I start that night!!  MY MIRACLE!!! Can you believe that.
So I am still here.  I am still at the hostel though unfortunatly not with Ryan.  He had to get an apartment.  Because I don't have much more time in America and I plan on continuing on in a month he really needed to find a place for himself because he is out here till January.  His place is awesome, right across the street from his work and it has a pool!  So we are planning a pool day this Saturday.  I'm not gonna lie, it's really weird not living with him.  It sucks coming home to an empty bed or not having someone to talk to about my day or their day :(  But I really do believe we need this separation.  It's gonna be easier when I leave.  So for now here I am in the smallest little room with 5 guys that are a hoot, though I am being moved to the other hostel tomorrow because I am a long termer.
Last but not least the other night an actor came into my work.  It's my 10th sighting.  He sat down at one of my tables and had dinner.  Now here is the thing he is one of those actors that you don't know his name or know off the top of your head what he has been in but when you see him your like "oh that guy"  so ya.  I can't even tell you his name which sucks but my dad really likes him haha.  I will find out one of these days and I will fill in the blanks lol.
Well I hope you enjoyed my update.  Please check out my two new photo albums on facebook - Paulywood and Dirty Vegas!!!  All the pictures are there.
Take care
xoxox

Milking It!!! OH and Celebrity Sighings 4,5,6

Alright I know it's been awhile but I have been really busy.  I have been doing quite a bit lately and didn't have the best time to blog but now I have the time to update you on whats been going on.
My friend Suzanne and I went to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  It was so beautiful and absolutely massive and the tombstones probably cost more then all three of our cars put together it was insane.  There are some famous people buried there such as Charlie Chaplin, Griffith Griffith (founder of the Observatory - please read Our Beautiful Sky blog) and the guitar player from the Ramon's.  It was really cool walking around but you feel almost intrusive at the same time like you have to whisper; plus there was a funeral going on that day so we just kept our voices down.  We had a map of all the grave sites but we couldn't find Chaplin's we look for half an hour and then gave up and moved on.
Ryan and I have been doing some audience work for extra cash.  Last week it was three days of "Minute to Win It"  its' this crazy game show where they take house hold items and make these impossible games that you have to complete and you only have a minute to complete it.  The contestant has 3 lives and they are trying to win $1,000. Crazy! but you get so into it as an audience member.  YOu start cheering them on and it gets really intense because you have become really invested in the contestant and all you want is to see them win LOL! It was really exciting our first day walking into the studio and seeing the stage and all the big screens and what the set looks like.  They really make it look a lot bigger on TV then it actually is.  They have this huge archway that is made out of these huge tube things that light up, they almost remind me of waterslides ( I snuck a picture so it will be posted). They have a warm up guy named Bill that plays music and warms up the crowd and has contests for us when the crew takes too long.  One day they took long in between games because they were discussing whether or not they liked the colour of the ping pong balls or should they change them.  I didn't think it mattered lol but hey, the longer they take the longer I am there and I make more  :). Let me tell you though, after three days my hands were sore from clapping so much, but I met a bunch of people and made a new friend, Rachel, who I might ad is a dancer so I am super stoked about that.
On our first morning out to Studio City (where the show is filmed), Ryan and I met a girl on the bus  who gave us the contact for Judge Judy!  They pay for audience.  We are going on tomorrow morning.  LOL Judge Judith Schiendlen, it's going to be great we are looking forward to it so I will definately have to let you all know how it was.
I have been dancing again!!! I saw a posting on Craigslist for "Dancers Wanted" and I ended up getting accepted due to my dance background.  Man did it feel amazing to be in a studio, that is once I got to the studio.  Rehearsal's were to take place @ JV Dance Studio in Alahambra.  Ya thats about a 1.5 hour bus ride from where I am.  Well,  I really wanted to dance so I hoped on the bus around 8 (I missed the first one).  It wasn't bad until I started going through some really sketchy parts of LA.  Some parts were really pretty and all lit up and people walking around and then; dark, no pretty lights or houses and not that many people on the streets and I was the only white person on the bus.  You see in LA most white people don't take the bus especially in the area's I was going through so I get stared at a lot by the men, like I am fresh meat or something so it's kind of scary.  I kept asking myself "what are you doing you are crazy, it's getting dark, just hope off the bus and get one back home!!! You don't even know these people you are dancing for what if it's a scam!!!" Everything was going through my head but something told me to keep going.  I had to make a transfer to another bus, so i get dropped off at this bus stop in not the nicest area and it is already dark at this point.  There were a lot of people there so I felt better but I just kept my ipod on and focused on not making eye contact but of course that doesn't work and I have a young guy try and pick me up.  No matter how many times I mentioned "my boyfriend" it didn't work he still wanted to hang out.  He then proceeds to tell me that the big massive building across the street is the LA County Jail - the one Paris Hilton went to and then proceeds to tell me he doesn't want to go back.  "Just perfect" I'm thinking.  My bus finally comes and I make it safely to the studio and an awesome rehearsal.  It felt so good to be in a studio again!  It was like I was home, like a part of me was sleeping for the past 5 years and has been woken up again.  I can't even explain it just felt so good.  Anthony (the choreographer) could not believe I took the bus from West Hollywood and told me he lives around the corner and I can ride with him for the next rehearsal.  Thank goodness because I wouldn't want to go through that again.

THE SHOW:   The show was for Harvey Milk (the gay activist who was assissinated in the 70's - recent movie Milk with Sean Penn).  Harvey Milk Day has become a State holiday as of this year, and it takes place on his birthday.  It was on the rooftop of Madame Tussaud's in Hollywood!!! How fucking crazy is that.  What an honour.  It was the inauguration, and I was there.  We even got to walk the red carpet!! Thats right, THE RED CARPET. Coolest feeling in the world.  The people on the street thought we were famous they were just standing there watching while we stood on the carpet and got our pictures taken by the press.  I even met some celebrities.  Bruce Vilanche (Hollywood Square's  #4), and Darryl - #5 from Noah's Arch. It was probably one of these best experiences I have ever had.  Words can not describe what it felt like, and I am not just talking the red carpet I am talking about the whole thing. I never would of had this opportunity anywhere else without an audition so it was all overwhelming.  I was so nervous before we went on but I remembered everything! Yay me :)!  Oh and the beautiful men!  all so beautiful and all so gay. I was in heaven.  WE all know how much I love them.  It was A-Mazing!!!  Plus I met some dancers, mad new friends and got an audition for the next day.
I missed my bus but grabbed the next one and headed to the audition.  Pumped and ready to go because the previous night had given me faith in my dancing again so I decided why not.  Why not just stay home? should've been the real question.  I get there late but he brings me in anyways when he started the new section.  Ok, sweet, perfect I dont have to catch up.  Though catching on would've been a good thing.  I couldn't do it.  It was so fast I just couldnt remember the choreography, I was marking it so I would remember it and then he would move on to something else and then the next thing I knew he was putting us into groups.  HELL NOOOOO!!! I was so frustrated.  This had never happened to me before at an audition, I would freeze due to nerves but never not be able to catch on.  5 years is a long time without training and I am definately not up to par the way I was.  It's hard to pick up the choreography when it's been so long especially when you've gotten used to it. I didnt even have the choreography and they wanted to put us into groups and most likely do some cuts.  I really wanted to spare myself some embarassment. With my head held high and as brave as I could I walked up to the front and said " I am really sorry but I have not trained in five years and I just can't keep up with the speed you are going.  I need time to go over it.  I just can't keep up I'm sorry" and I walked out and started to cry. Not because I didnt get the audition but because I just couldn't keep up, it was so frustrating and I was really embarrassed.  Then realizing i left my shirt in there I had to go back in.  I grabbed it quickly and walked back out.  Still with tears in my eyes I put my bag on my shoulder and walked to the nearest 711 and got myself a coke slushy (one of my fav) and waited for the bus.  Now as much as this did suck and I was upset I still went and did it.  I may have walked out but I still showed up and gave it what I could.
Yet, when in doubt check Craigslist - which after I did after I called my  mom.  I found a posting for a music video.  They needed hip hop dancers for a music video shoot on Saturday.  So I sent in my pictures and my background and .........I GOT IT!!! We started rehearsals today.  No auditions there is no time so it's bonus for me and free dance classes.  It's not paid but I need it.  Plus I have time to go over everything.  Rehearsal rocked,  I felt alive after,  I can't explain how it makes me feel.  To top it off we were rehearsing at this super high end gym called Equinox in Westwood which is on the West Side of Beverly Hills, and I mean high end.  It's almost like a resort it's so nice.  Anyways there we are rehearsing and what do you know, we look over and there was Marlon Wayans #6 running on the treadmill.  HAHA I love LA, and yes of course I got a picture!!!
Well hope thats a good update. There will be more soon.  I miss you all very much and I have been a little homesick.  Writing these blogs makes me feel a little closer to you guys.  For those of you that do have twitter I am obsessed and always updating so you can add me at www.twitter.com/emmiejae
Check Forever Cemetary and Milking It photo albums on Facebook.
xoxox

A Bad Promotion, Mean Cabbies, Tuna Fish and a Shopping Cart on Melrose.

So let’s see; the weekend, which means the Usher CD Release Party.  So as a promoter my job is to promote this event through emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter, word of mouth and flyers.  My roommate Dallas had gone to the interview with me so he had to promote for it as well so we planned on going down to Hollywood Blvd on Saturday (the day before the event) and hand out flyers/passes for the event.  Well of course Dallas and I planning to get work done together never happen’s and we get side tracked.  We decide to spend our money and go to Madame Tussaude’s House of Wax (photo album up on Facebook – Real? Fake? Look-a-Like).  It was pretty awesome but creepy at the same time.  At one point I couldn’t find Dallas and when I looked around for him I saw all these people, famous people, but then you realize that none of them are real. Sometimes when you turn around there is one just standing there staring at you and then you realize it’s another wax figure.  These was figure’s are made to the exact scale and size of the actors and they have the actors’ distinguishing marks on them such as tattoo’s scars and piercings, it’s really crazy.  Some of them look so real your expecting them to start a conversation with you or wait till you’ve looked at them long enough and then they are just going to look and you and say Boo and scare the crap out of you.  I even got Dallas to poke them to make sure they were wax, it’s honestly incredible how real some of them look.  After our adventure with the rich and famous we decided we weren’t in the mood to promote so we went grocery shopping instead and then headed back to the hostel.

By the time Sunday hit my phone and my Facebook were going crazy with messages from people that wanted guestlist.  It was great I had over 37+ on my list and I only needed 20 so I was pretty happy.

I had to be at the club by 9:30p that night so Ryan, Justin, Ethan, Mandy and I all got a cab at 9p and headed down to Ecco (the club).

It was pretty awesome when I first got there.  All the promoters got in a line and were directed into the club.  Once we got inside we had a bit of an orientation and that was it.  We had done our job and now we were just able to enjoy the event.  I was thinking “this is great!  Promote al week and then get into  the parties for free. Sweet!”  Boy, was I wrong.   No line up for guestlist/VIP passes = in a line up for over an hour.  Open bar till 10:30p = no running it by the owner so it was cancelled meaning drinks were $11 each.  Usher listening party = Usher is a no show.  Getting paid to promote the events = not being able to get a hold of your boss.  Now don’t get me wrong,  we had an absolute blast, maybe too much of a blast considering we spent way too much money. Using my VISA for emergencies only ended up being I need a rum and diet it’s an emergency lol.  But, it was all worth it in the end. 

We ended up leaving just after 1am as we had drank a little too much and thought it best we just head back to the hostel.  We grabbed some street meat and hailed a cab.  Now let me tell you something about the cabbies here in Hollywood.  THEY ALL NEED AN ADDITUDE REAJUSTMENT.  First off every time I get into a cab and ask them to take me somewhere they don’t even know where it is.  My first night here I was getting dropped off at Ella’s and the cab pulled over and I politely asked “is this the address” he rudely replied “how am I supposed to know I have never been here before, you don’t know where you’re going!”  It really makes me miss the cabbies in Collingwood, they are so much nicer and actually make your ride more enjoyable.  Anyways when we got into the cab after the club all I remember is Ryan arguing with the cab driver.  Apparantly he wanted to charge us a $20 flat rate when we were only a $16 cab drive away.  So the cab driver decides to turn around with the meter running and drive back to the club to over charge us.  We finally calmed him down and got him to drive us back to the hostel which only ended up being an $11 cab ride.

So now lets fast forward as few days to Wednesday.  Dallas and I decide that we wouldn't mind grabbing a bottle of cheap vodka ($12 for 20oz) and listening to some tunes down in the party room.  So thats exactly what we did.  We pounded out Lady Gaga on the stereo speakers and danced on the coffee tables which actually scared some people from coming in the room.  A small speaker even fell from the ceiling but we don't even know where it came from lol.

The next morning was beach day for Dallas and I, ya, ok, let me tell you how GREAT I felt (pure sarcasm here).  I felt like I had been hit by a truck, cheap vodka may be good for my budget but it definately  isn't good for me lol.  We decided to nix on the beach till the following day (Friday) and just allow ourselves to devulge in our own self inflicted illness.  With painful heads and upset stomachs we decided to take the 45 minute walk down to Sunset and La Brea to the grocery store.  On our way to the grocery I really needed to stop for food ( I had the hungover hunger) so we decided to stop at Subway.  Not really that hungry I decided to get a tuna salad feeling it would be lighter and go down better then a sub at this point.  So of course Dallas and I who are both Gemini's and are pretty much the same person are both hangover bitchy; here's what happned - he kept putting his pop on my tray I kept moving it he putting it back.  I took a sip of his pop he took a sip of mine, I took some tuna salad and put it in his pop, he took it out threw it back in my bowl and poured just a little of his soda in my salad.  At this point we pause and stare at each other, like two cowboys ready to draw their guns.  Then very slowly with a smile of satisfaction he picks up his soda and dumps the orange liquid all over my salad turning my ever so delicious salad into tuna salad goo. Not over impressed because it cost me $7 (which is out of my budget), I was hungover and hungry I picked up a forkful of tuna salad goo and flung it at him, I got him right in the face.  If you could've seen the look on his face, it was priceless, man did I laugh so hard, and so did he.  It was on his face in his hair, on his sunglasses and on his shirt, it was all over him.  With a hungry stomach but still laughing histarically we left and headed the rest of the way to Ralph's (grocery store).

I don't know if I have mentioned but Dallas is an Aussie so we have different terms for things so when we get to the grocery store he starts calling the buggy a trolly.  I said no a trolly is something you ride a buggy is for groceries.  He said no a buggy is something you ride and a trolly is something you push. We are going back and forth like this for 5 minutes when I hear giggling.  This woman was standing there listening to us bicker and thought it was hilarious she couldn't stop laughing.  Dallas even asked her if she thought it was a buggy or trolly but she was laughing to hard she couldn't answer.

Anyways an hour later and $200 worth of groceries (most of them being different flavours of noodles) we are ready to head back only to realize that there is no way we can carry all of our stuff on the bus, and it would be way to heavy to carry home but a cab was way out of our budget. What do we do? M - Dallas maybe we should just take the buggy.  D - I was just thinking the same thing.  So that was our decision take the buggy.  All of a sudden the buggy stalls it wouldn't move and the wheels would just move from side to side. Dallas pulled it back, it was fine, pushed it forward and stopped, it literally got retarded on us.  Well, they have these magnetic things all around the property so that you can't steal the buggies. Smart for them bad for us. Now what?  Dallas sees a buggy beside a car and decides to pick it up over the magnetic thing.  VOILA!  We move all our groceries into that buggy and begin our 45 minute trek back to the  hostel.  Do you have any idea what it is like walking down Melrose Ave. pushing a shopping cart full of groceries while everyone else is walking around with bags from clothing shops.  Yup, definately not the most popular kids on the block that day.  We might as well wore sings on our back that says "Kick Me!". 

We did make it to the beach the next day.  Dallas and I went down to Santa Monica the next day and check out the fair on the Santa Monica Pier and just sat and watched the water it was a really relaxing day, a little chilly but really nice and chill.  The only bad thing was we ordered burrito's, fries and onion rings for lunch.  Not really the greatest idea I have had since I left Canada.  We were both in the bathroom for quite a while.  I kid you not (for those with weak stomachs do not read any further) it was like a machine gun and then a bomb explosion and then a trumpet played.  There were a few minutes I thought I was going to die.  I couldn't even eat dinner that night I was still full (if you could even call it that) from the burrito.  NEVER AGAIN!

Well thats it for now.  I don't have much else to talk about but I think I have given you all enough to read this entry.  I will try and post something in a few days.  I am off to go buy the boyz some chocolate bunnies and we apparantly have an easter egg hunt at the hostel tonight so that should be fun.  

Take care, Happy Easter, and remember to love your Collingwood Cab Drivers.

xoxox

Santa Monica and Venice Beach

Yesterday our (Justin, Ryan and I ) plan was to go to the beach.  Ryan was planning on being up around 8 to hit the gym and then be back by 10 so we could head down to Santa Monica.  Well if you knew my roommates you would know that them getting up means "Emmie can you set the alarm because we have to be at the office for 10 so can you set the alarm for 7 and wake us up" "Oh and can you take my suit to the dry cleaners" lol. But the trick is actually waking them up.  You see they set there alarms as well but it just wakes me up on top of my own alarm and then i have to yell and shake them which doesn't work half the time; and Justin's alarm is a rooster,  KILL THE FUCKING ROOSTER!!! HAHAHA!!!  So after about 3 hours of trying to wake them up and a missed gym session by Ryan, and me spraying Justin with a spray on tan we finally leave around noon with an added person (Sakita) and headed to the bus stop with an hour bus ride out to Santa Monica.

Santa Monica is beautiful. You walk over a bridge which looks out on to the water and the mountains. On the other side of the bridge is a pier where a fair takes place with a huge roller coaster and a huge ferris wheel and the pier is just infested with people.  The beach itself is just beautiful, there are shops and condos all lined on the left side and the right side has a bath for walkers, runners, bikers, bladers, skateboards and to the right of the is the beach which is about a mile till you get to the water which is speckled with sailboats and lined with mountains. There are swings and palm trees and a gym for gymnasts which line the outer part of the beach its nuts. I have not seen anything like this on a beach before.  It was great just walking and looking around at this thing they call a beach which is beyond any beach I have ever been to.

Our whole goal was to go get to Venice beach so after we had our beach side burgers we kept walking toward Venice.  WOW! What an amazing difference between Santa Monica and Venice you don't need anyone to tell you where one ends and the other starts.  It's like Ghost Town (Frontier Town) on the beach.  It's incredible.  Big painted hippie vans are the first thing you see when you hit Venice with the faintest smell of Pechoullie.  Mom you would love Venice beach, you would be calling Aunt Pat to come out and move there with you haha.  It's got artists, and music, hippies, dancers, a side show - they had a two headed turtle- drum circles, food, henna tattoos, you can rent a bike to ride on the path, jewellery makers, tattoo and piercing shops, smoke shops, restaurants, music, clothing stores hat stores, almost everyone had a dog,  homeless people with signs saying stuff like "Why lie, need weed" and "Punch me in the face for $1". There are also these shops that you can go in and buy weed legally as long as you have a medical card for it.  I have never heard of that before, its fucking crazy.  I saw the biggest drum circle I had ever seen and it never stopped it just kept going, I also saw a loan drummer just sitting on the beach just playing his drums.  It was amazing. And this goes on everyday.  It was beyond anything I could think of  of what a beach is like.  It was amazing everywhere you looked it was something different, there was so much going on that if you looked one way you missed what was going on the other way.  There were always crowds of people looking at something.  We walked up to one crowd and asked what was going on and a lady said "that extremely built guy is going to jump over 11 people". Well that extremely built man started running and he jumped over 11 kids.  Crazy.  Have you ever heard of Muscle beach? You know in the movies you see the big muscle heads working out on the beach.  Well it exsists and it is actually called muscle beach. YUP who knew. I thought people called it that because of the muscle heads but its the actual name. Beside that is this stage thing with bleachers facing it and there were techtonik dancers showing there moves. Goodbye Wasaga Beach strip lol, you will never be the same.

By the time we decided to catch a bus back we had walked over three miles or more.  By the time we got home it was just after 7 and Justin's spray on tan looks like he has an obsession with Zebra's lol I did a really bad job but it looks really funny.

Well I am off as I have to pick up the dry cleaning and run to the store and then come back and do nothing.  I'm loving this life!

Famous Sighting

Sunday afternoon Ryan, Dallas and I went to the Whole Foods down the street to grab some necessities before our Oscar celebration and I found myself standing beside Ali Larter at the meat counter. Then again at the check out. I snuck a picture with my iphone. I love it here!!!

I'm here!!!

Well I am here.  West Hollywood California!  And...I love it!!!  (know it’s been almost a week since my last blog but it took me this long to connect my laptop to the wifi here at the hostel.)

So I left Las Vegas Sunday Morning.  Of course I shed some tears when I said goodbye to Pauly.  I was terrified, it was the day that I officially was going to be on my own and I was feeling anxious.  Ben (who we met the first night) was driving me to the Greyhound station.  He picked me up I said my teary goodbye to Pauly and we were off.  It was still pretty early so we went to Denny’s for breakfast and then went to the station.  At this point I was really starting to get anxiety, I couldn’t believe the moment had come that I was going to board the bus and start this journey.  Ben stayed and chatted with me for an hour which was awesome because he himself has done an extensive amount of travelling and he told me about his experiences as a solo traveller so it was really nice, reassuring and calming so by the time he left I was feeling ok.

I met an interesting couple at the bus station; her, a sweet plump 22 year old in a wheelchair and her husband a tall lanky Napoleon Dynamite looking guy.  I saw a woman with jogging pants that were too big on her and when she pulled them up to try and hold them up by what looked like a cheap knock off of an Ed Hardy belt you could see she was wearing no underwear who was with her friend who I knew was a woman but didn’t quite look like one.  Then I met Ben ( yes another one) a 21 year old just travelling around and wanting to find a bartending  job.  We travelled all the way to Hollywood together.  The drive, just as before was beautiful.  The bus had huge panoramic windows and on either side were just mountains so high that the snow on the peaks blended in with the white clouds.  As I looked out the window I couldn’t help but smile with a tear in my eye because I knew this was it.  I had done it, on my own alone in this huge world and I realized how proud I am of myself for actually doing this.

With a transfer in LA I arrived in Hollywood at about 7pm.  With saying goodbye to Ben and being the only one in the bus station and waiting for a cab I felt alone for the first time.  I was relieved when the cab got there because I just wanted to check into the hostel and then go meet up with Ellie.

I was a little nervous when I first walked in the door as I had never been to a hostel before and didn’t know what to expect.  There was overbooking of travellers to beds so within a half hour my bed had switched three times.  Frustrated and relieved I finally head to Ellie’s.

It was sooo good to see her.  We drank some rum, caught up and went out to the Saddle Ranch it did it up pretty good finishing the night off with chilli cheese fries and I can’t remember what else we had but it definately greasy lol.

I get back to the hostel about 3 o’clock a little nervous  to sleep in a dorm room with 5 people I didn’t know.  As I am getting ready to crawl into bed I realize my bed is no longer my bed and someone is sleeping in it.  I lost my shit!  They wanted to transfer me to another hostel and everything.  Not happy, its 3am, I’m tired and frustrated I kind of wanted to just pick up and go home.  Just at that moment a guy walked through the door and stressfully I asked him if he had a cigarette ( I know I quit) and in a sexy Australian accent he said no and then asked me if I was ok and I said no and told him the situation.  He told the front desk to give me a blanket and that I was fine for the night and we would figure out everything in the morning.   Anyways we couldn’t sleep so we went down to the party/tv room and hung out for a bit.  He said this is what travelling is all about and not to worry.  The next day I went to the front desk and I was told my night was free and they found me a bed.  But Ryan (the Aussie) had a free bed in his room so we are now roommates.  The best thing, none of us snore and we all get along so well. With everything getting cleared up and me getting almost a three week stay here – I decided to suck it up and stay in a dorm room and not go to a private because I’m actually loving this dorm thing – I was ready to do some sightseeing.

So at 11am Dallas (another Aussie from my original room) we started walking to do a little site seeing.  We walked all the way to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and walked the entire thing.  Plus they are setting up for the Oscars so it was pretty awesome.  Six hours later we end up back at the hostel with blisters on our feet and a bottle of Jim Beam and Bacardi.  It was a great day and it was free which was even better.

As we walked and talked I had this crazy feeling of exhilaration.  Its an exhilaration that I cant explain or make you understand unless you have traveled.  The feeling of being out in the world, by yourself with no one to worry about or meet up with and go where you want to go and do what you want to do and meet people who are doing it to for their own reasons.  You have an instant family like connection with people, some more than others.  Justin, Ryan and Dallas are the ones that I am close with.  They are amazing and in the short 48 hours I have known them I can’t believe that this time last week they weren’t in my life.  Justin who is from Vegas is here to start something new; Ryan an investment banker from Melbourne who has the travel bug and Dallas an actor from Sydney who is taking acting classes here.  All so different and possibly people I wouldn’t be friends with under any other circumstances but here we are, here I am having an experience with complete strangers but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  As much as I miss you all at home I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world-if that makes sense.

Anyways last night we went to a party then a club and then I dragged the boys home by midnight as they were falling over drunk and of course I am the one that ends up with bruises, due to the fact that drunkenly one of them knocked my into a fire hydrant and my knees are now swollen and covered in bruises lol but it was all in good fun.

I think I am the only Canadian staying at this hostel which is kind of cool and I apparently have a nice accent – lol what accent. I met one Canadian last night who is from Hamilton and now lives here and he knew Colingwood so I was super stoked about that.  I am surrounded by English, German, French and a ton of Aussies it almost makes me forget where I actually am.  I am starting to pick up accents and new slangs.

We went to a viewing of the Oscar’s next store to our hostel at the Silent Movie theatre.  It was pretty awesome sitting in a theatre of 100 people watching the Oscar’s on a big screen, it almost felt like we were there.  But, with being able to bring in your own drinks we drank too much and left because we couldn’t sit anymore so we just went back to the hostel and partied with everyone else. 

The area we are living/staying in is awesome – Fairfax Village and it’s amazing here.  Everything is here. Melrose Avenue is the next street over, The Grove is about a 5 minute walk, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, the Hollywood Hills is my view as soon as I leave the hostel.  I could live here! It’s so beautiful. And the fashion, WOW! The high school kids have better fashion then me lol, it’s pretty cool.

So this week we are job hunting so we have some extra cash and next week so wish me luck!  Talk soon.