MS. IN THE BIZ POST: POUND BY POUND – NAKED LADIES & PINK ELEPHANTS AT THE Y!

No, really! I swam laps at the Y!

My most recent Pound by Pound post is up over at Ms. In the Biz. In it, I extol the virtues of exercise at the YMCA (while also keeping it real about dudes who may or may not be masturbating in the hot tub…). Check it out!

EXCERPT:

I never thought that my fitness journey would lead me to being naked in a sauna with four other women talking about mail-order grooms.

Let me back up. First, you should know that I hate gyms. Like, hate them. Or, rather, I hate the routine of Going To The Gym. I’m supposed to sign away a year of my life to one organization for a butt-load of money and just…go to that one place? Like, several times a week? Indefinitely? Eff that.

When I decided to get serious about weight loss for the Pound By Pound Pledge Drive, I knew that variety was the name of the game. Exercise you’re never going to do is useless, and I know myself well enough to know that I will never exercise if I’m doing the same thing for weeks. And so, I’ve decided to seek out different exercise options all over L.A! Not just exercise classes and gyms, but stuff like dancing, hiking, biking, and stuff that’s a little off the beaten path!

For the whole article, or to make a comment, CLICK HERE!

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

SONG OF THE DAY: “ALL I DO IS WIN (REMIX)” – DJ KHALED & A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER MO-FOS (Or, My Theme Song)

Today was a busy day! So busy that I couldn’t post a Song of the Day earlier. (Sorry?) By 3:15PM I had…

• Spoken to one of my bosses about possible additional work
• Had a meeting w/a friend from my Obama volunteering and her screenwriter husband about acting in a short film they’re producing
• Met with the fabulous Celia Aurora de Blas about a project of hers that I’m developing into a webseries (very excited about this one, as it covers SO many things that are a part of my “artistic mission statement.”)

My apartment/roommate situation has gotten much better, The Boy becomes more and more wonderful every day, creative projects are falling into my lap….life is good!

And since “All I Do Is Win,” I figured that would be an appropriate Song of the Day today! Here it is! It’s the remix by DJ Khaled, featuring Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Diddy, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Swizz Beatz & T-Pain. (Why did no one ask ME to be in this video?! They asked EVERYONE ELSE!)

Enjoy!

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

SONG OF THE DAY: “THE LAZY SONG” – BRUNO MARS

I’m not the biggest Bruno Mars fan, but he hit the nail on the head with this one. I’ve been feeling less-than-motivated lately, despite the fact that I have several pretty big opportunities sitting in my lap. I mean, I do the work, but it’s a slog. I don’t quite know why I’m feeling like this, or what to do about it, but I DO know that this song kind of describes how I feel perfectly.

Today’s Song of the Day is Bruno Mars’ “The Lazy Song.” Enjoy! You know, if you’re up for it. If not, whatever.

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

SONG OF THE DAY: “IF I DIDN’T KNOW BETTER” – CLARE BOWEN AND SAM PALLADIO (FROM NASHVILLE)

I enjoy country music way more than a woman from New York probably should. And I love the show Nashville! It’s kinda soapy and trashy, but just smart and well-written enough to remain interesting. Best of all, it has a great soundtrack. Here’s one of my favorites as sung by two of my favorite actors on the show.

Today’s Song of the Day is “If I Didn’t Know Better” sung by “Scarlett” and “Gunnar” (played by Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio) from the hit ABC show, Nashville. Enjoy!

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

SONG OF THE DAY: “INTERGALACTIC” – BEASTIE BOYS (Or, Kirk Loved the Beasties)

K, Carol. If we’re gonna get it on, I need Ad-Rock in the background…

So, I went to see Star Trek: Into Darkness this weekend, and I LOVED IT. Serious nerdgasm.

But the big thing I took away? Kirk was a huge fan of the Beastie Boys. After all, when he stole his dad’s car as a kid, he blasted “Sabotage.” In this movie, the Beasties are in the background as he’s having sex with two alien women.

Dude loved classical hip-hop. Can’t hate on him for that.

Today’s Song of the Day is “Intergalactic” by the Beastie Boys from their album, Hello Nasty. Because I’ll stir-fry you in my wok, your knees’ll start shaking and your fingers pop like a pinch on the neck from Mr. Spock.

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

Ms. In the Biz Post: THE WRITE STUFF – Finding the Right Mentors

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse in the Lost writer’s room. They have nothing to do with my Ms. in the Biz post – I just really loved Lost.

Hey there everyone! First, I should let you know that there’s been a slight change in what I’ll be doing for Ms. In the Biz. I will no longer be doing a Pretty Plus column on its own, though I might pull that into my Pound By Pound posts on occasion. So, you can expect to hear from me weekly re: my Pound By Pound efforts and monthly re: writing. Got it?

Good.

And hey, speaking of writing, the first installment of “The Write Stuff” hit Ms. In the Biz today! My first writing column for the site both talks about seeking mentors and introduces The Writer’s Room, a select group of professional TV writers I know who’ve been kind enough to share their experience with you once a month. I hope you’ll find my writing journey enlightening (and when you don’t, I hope that you’ll at least garner some wisdom from folks who actually know what they’re talking about!).

EXCERPT:

6)    BE THE KIND OF PERSON PEOPLE WANT TO HELP – In the entertainment industry, more than anywhere else, collaborations and successful partnerships often come about by chance, and they come about through relationships you nurture, sometimes over years. You never know when they’re going to happen, or when those relationships are going to “pay off.” So, don’t be the kind of person who’s only interested in the payoff. Be kind and respectful to everyone. Yes, everyone. Even the people you’re not too crazy about. Even the assistants and the receptionists. Even people who aren’t already Somebody. Because you just never know. Also, help others. Don’t expect to receive without giving. Don’t hoard all of your opportunities. If you hear about a cool writing group, or a job opportunity you know would be up someone’s alley, tell a writer friend about it. If you write for an outlet that can promote someone’s work, offer to interview them or to do an article about what they’re working on. Offer to be a reader of people’s work, and give them thoughtful, constructive criticism when you do. I mean, you should strive to be this kind of person anyway. You know, because it’s better to not be a douche than to be a douche. But also keep in mind that the best way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. Kindness begets kindness.

To read the full article, and to leave a comment, CLICK HERE!

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **

SONG OF THE DAY: “The Bare Necessities” – Phil Harris (from The Jungle Book)

I’ve been in a Classic Disney mood lately! I’ve also been broke a lot lately. So, Baloo’s words about being happy with the “the simple bare necessities” ring very true. Because you know what? You don’t have to wait to have money to be happy.

Today’s Song of the Day is “The Bare Necessities” from Disney’s The Jungle Book, as sung by Phil Harris as Baloo. Enjoy!

** DON’T FORGET THE POUND BY POUND PLEDGE DRIVE – RUNNING APR. 5TH 2013-APR. 5TH 2014 **