Fun Foto Friday - R.E.M.

Working at The Museum of TV & Radio wasn't good for my bank account but what it lacked in pay, it more then made up for in fun experiences. Since we had a working radio booth, one year (sorry I can't remember when) instead of touring different radio stations R.E.M. did all of their radio interviews from the museum. They spent a week there and it was awesome to get to hang out, watch them do sound check, perform (they played for a small audience that I was a part of, squee!), listen to them interact and just soak up the awesomeness of being so close to them.

While stationed in Korea, the only tv option we had was the military one, AFKN (where I worked) so we didn't watch a lot of tv. I used to watch my R.E.M. concert video all of the time. I think I still have it in a box back in the shed.

I didn't say anything to the guys all week about watching their video over and over again until the last day. I just had to get my picture with them (we weren't supposed to bother the talent but rules were meant to be broken, or at least bent) and when I finally told them about how much I loved them, they were like, why didn't you say anything earlier? I was being a professional. The photo of me and Michael Stipe was taken after the very last interview was done, he was exhausted and ready to go home but he stopped to take this pic with me. I love when famous people exceed expectations (maybe next week I'll share a photo of someone who disappointed). I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for these guys.

Fun Foto Friday- Washington DC

I'm getting ready to head to Washington DC next week and I realized that it's been 20 years since I lived in Ft Meade, MD which is halfway in between DC and Baltimore. That's right, these pics are around 20 years old! That's just crazy. It doesn't feel like 20 years have passed and I certainly don't look 20 years older, LOL. 

This is one of my favorite pics from when I lived there. I loved that scarf, wish I knew where it was (moving as much as I do makes it hard to keep track of things). I can't remember who I was with this day but we took a ton of pics of me in the Mall, so you know I was happy, LOL. For those of you who have traveled with me you know I'm not a big tourist. I don't really need to see all of the landmarks but I have to say, there was something quite magical about driving down the street and seeing the Capitol Building right in front of you or looking off to the side to see the Washington Monument. If you've never been to DC I highly recommend it, there's so much history and beauty right there. The Vietnam Memorial was so moving. So many names. Seeing pics of it, doesn't do it justice. 

I had a friend who worked for White House Press so he got us an actual tour of the White House, a behind the scenes tour, not the public one. It was pretty cool and this is a pic taken in the press room. Unfortunately, this was before digital cameras so my photo is blurry (there's are all in focus since I took their pics). I'm wearing sunglasses because their prescription and didn't realize I had them on, since I'm always wearing glasses, LOL. 

I can't wait to get to DC next week and take lots of pictures and make many new memories as well as spend time with dear friends. I'll be meeting up with my Army roommate  and best friend from Korea, my best friend from when I was at Ft Meade, RBL girlfriends and Moning Maniacs. Friendships that have lasted decades. I'm a very lucky girl!

Have you been to Washington DC before? What were some of your favorite sites? Any restaurant recommends? I used to go to Arlington (I think) to an Officer's Club to eat all you can eat seafood, there was a 3 piece band who's median age was 60 and she would sing the electric slide, I loved it! And the food!

Fun Foto Friday - Mr. T

A few years ago, some of the gals and I were in New York for a quickie trip. We had actually been on a different trip with more girls and decided since we were so close to NYC, to go there for 4 days since Nancy and I had never been. 4 days is not enough time in the city, we barely scratched the surface but we had a lot of fun while we were there.

On our last day there we were at Carnegie Deli, a place Su suggested (we had the best borscht ever there but the borscht at the Vegas one sucks) and on our way out I was paying the bill when the girls started whispering. I asked them what was up and they said, "that's Mr. T." They were already walking out the door when they told me and I asked, "Do you want a picture with him?" At the time, I lived in Los Angeles and I can tell when someone doesn't mind being asked and when they do. I don't normally ask for a pic when they are on their own time but Mr T walked in totally boisterous and seemed approachable.

They of course said yes so I walked over and told him we were visiting from out of town and literally heading to the airport and would he mind if we took a picture of him. He bellowed out that he would love to. He had a hat on at the time and he took it off so his mohawk would show. Some guy walked in front of the camera the first time we took our pic and he yelled at them (nicely). We asked him where his bling was, he said at home, you don't wear it walking the streets of New York if you know what's good for you.

Overall it was a wonderful experience and a great way to end our trip.

He also took a pic with Su and Barb but I don't have it scanned.

Fun Foto Friday - Bradley Cooper

I was a huge fan of the tv show Alias, and  loved the character of Will played by Bradley Cooper. I was bummed they never  made him a real love interest for Jennifer Garner's character. That would have been a fun triangle, I'd love to be in the middle of a Bradley Cooper/Michael Vartan sandwich! 

The Museum of TV and Radio had a seminar with the cast of Alias and I was in heaven. All of the cast was extremely nice but there was one who went out of his way to be friendly to everyone and that was Bradley Cooper. He introduced me to his girlfriend, he introduced me to his cast mates, we conversed. This is very unusual. I was a fan before I met him and more of a fan after and I'm so happy to see all of the success he's had since Alias. 

Fun Foto Friday - Family Togetherness

Nancy and I have been friends since our senior year in high school. She's as much a part of my family as I am. She's been hanging out with us so long that she tells people she's asian. She eats our food, she has the slanty eyes, her dad eats kimchee, she's one of us. Until she wasn't.

I come from a family of 9 kids. While growing up, it wasn't unusual to only have one couch and it wasn't a sectional.  So when we watched tv, we dog piled. This is one of my absolute most favorite pics because this was us when we were on the couch, except someone would also be laying on the other side of the couch. 

As adults, we're just as comfortable piling onto the couch. Nancy was in the middle of the pile with my sister-in-law Christina sitting next to her, squeezed in between every one else. At one point they noticed that they were practically on each other's lap but no one else was on the couch. Christina apologized and was moving away when Nancy said these fateful words, "Us white people have to stick together." Unfortunately for her, my sister Kimberly over heard her. Nancy, who has always told us she was Asian had kicked herself out of the Asian club. She's working hard to get back in. See where she's sitting now.

Fun Foto Friday - Suzanne Brockmann

This week I'm actually going to post Friday's foto on Friday. Something new I'm trying out. Today's pic is me at my first author signing. I've been a reader for a long time but for some reason never made it to a booksigning until 8 or 9 years ago. I was living in Los Angeles and had to drive out to the Valley but I was very excited to meet Suzanne Brockmann. 

She writes amazing Navy S.E.A.L books with hot Alpha males. If you have never read her Troubleshooter books I highly recommend them. My only caveat is I didn't love the first couple of books but books 3 and 4 knocked my socks off and I thoroughly enjoyed her books after that. Due to the fact that there are recurring characters I think it helps to read from the first book but you could always start at book 3 and then go back if you want to get a feel for her. 

Have you read SB before? What do you think? Either she's really tall or I'm really short, ok, maybe a little of both. 

Fun Foto Friday - Jason Segel

Technically it's not Friday but Fun Foto Saturday doesn't have the same ring to it. Consider this post a day late or 6 days early. Prior to Facebook I lived in Los Angeles for 8 years and I worked at the Museum of TV and Radio, now known as the Paley Center For Media. The pay sucked (unless you worked in the front office, oh the joys of non-profit) but there were definitely perks. 

One of them was when we did the Freaks and Geeks screening for the shows that never aired due to it's cancellation. I was a huge fan of F&G. The moments were sometimes so real it was painful to watch. It was also where Judd Apatow met a lot of the guys he would continue to work with  including Jason Segel.