I know - I'm being a complete corporate shill this week, between my excitement over Kodak's invitation to experience the Academy Awards from the Red Carpet bleachers... and my young friend's campaign to be a model for Benetton. (If you've voted for Brian, THANK YOU - and if you haven't, GO NOW! And remember, you can cast your vote for him DAILY.)
I suppose this is as good a time as any to disclose that I won't be paid for the OSCAR® gig; it's just something I really want to do, because it will be FUN. The company did send me a camera and digital camcorder to use, which I will review on SoCal Stuff after I've had the chance to get me some celebrity photos.
Right now, I'm obsessed with getting ready for the big day.
For instance, today I've been peppered with emails about logistics, between the Kodak organizers and the eleven bloggers who have been bestowed the coveted bleacher tickets. Most of it has been focused on transportation, as the stretch of Hollywood Boulevard leading to the Kodak Theater was closed on Monday and will remain so until after the event.
It's all well and good until you realize that WE all have to get there somehow, and we won't have the benefit of a limo to get us past the roadblock. We've been given a list of parking lots we may be able to use east of Highland, but there's no guarantee that there will be spaces.
And we have to think about the traffic jam we'll face when the show is over and everyone is trying to leave at once. My guess is that anyone who is not an A-list celebrity is going to have a tough time getting out of Hollywood on Sunday night.
So I'm seriously considering drastic measures for a native Angeleno: Public transportation. I think I may take the Red Line subway in from Universal City. My understanding is that the station at Hollywood & Highland is closed... but not the one at Hollywood & Vine -- which would be the same distance as the lots we were told we could use for parking.
And I continue to obsess over WHAT TO WEAR. And how to look more... well, attractive. This is weird, because I thought stopped caring so much about my appearance after I hit 50. I mean, what's the point?
Apparently, there is one. Because this week, I care. A LOT.
On Tuesday, I paid a visit to my friends Faith and Kim, who started a clothing company in Faith's garage... and now operate out of a big warehouse in the west Valley.
I was hoping they might have something for me that might be comfortable for bleacher wear... but festive enough for OSCAR®.
And since I stopped subscribing to women's magazines after Megan was born (a move that made me feel a lot better about myself now that I no longer had monthly pictorial reminders of my inadequacies), I really needed some fashion guidance.
Fortunately, Kim and Faith were up to the task. They pointed me in the direction of a cute black racer-back t-shirt and matching wrap jacket. And then they glammed both pieces up with crystal appliques.
I am trying to decide whether it makes sense to pack these items in the one bag I'm allowed to bring (and then change in the ladies' room at the El Capitan), wear the tee under a sweater (and change in the ladies' room at the El Capitan) or just wear 'em all day. As it might rain, I'll probably have to cover up in a coat or jacket anyway while we're out in the bleachers.
I've already ruled out the idea of lugging around a pair of high-heeled shoes for the party portion of the evening.
So I've pretty much answered the question of what to wear.
I just wish I had the time - and the money - to deal with the rest of me.
As I've had to do a lot of belt tightening over the last couple of years, I'm no longer seeing my hairdresser as often as I should. The last time I got color was... well, I'm not sure! It's been a long time. But as my hair has grown out, I was rather pleased to see that my natural color wasn't as gray as I'd feared...
...until I saw this photo, taken by Carla Duharte-Razura at last month's party for contributors to Los Angeles Moms blog.
It's a good photo.
I just wish I didn't look like me.
Especially the parts of me that look my age.
The last time I had to cut my grooming budget this radically, I tried coloring it myself.
It took me well over a year to grow out the resulting straw-textured mess, and I vowed to never again let anyone but a professional touch it.
But that was then, and now I'm again toying with the idea of DIY. But this time, rather than get something out of a box at the supermarket, I thought I'd go the natural route. So while I was in Santa Monica last weekend, I paid a visit over at LUSH and purchased a henna and cocoa butter concoction they market as "Les Cacas."
If you know the meaning of the word "caca," you are probably questioning my judgment for wanting to put that on my hair. And after buying the product and reading the forums on the LUSH website, I'm having serious second thoughts. It's very possible that this stuff could make my hair look gorgeous again...
...or I could create an even bigger mess than I did with the Nice N Easy ten years ago.
It would probably make great fodder for this blog. But probably not something I want to do just before my OSCAR® debut.
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