Weddings and Sunburns

This past weekend, my Irish roommate was a bridesmaid in a wedding, and she invited me to join her as her date back in May. The bride had joined us on our trip to Vegas, so I was acquainted we her. The ceremony was held in a beautiful Catholic church just north of Simi Valley followed by a reception at the beautiful Spanish Hills Country Club.

It was a bit awkward at first. While I was happy to be a witness to the beautiful ceremony, I felt like I was encroaching on something personal. My only connection to the couple was as a friend of a friend.

However, once the reception got into full swing and I joined my date at the bridal party table, I felt more comfortable.

Both families were Hispanic, so some of the speeches tested my knowledge of Spanish, which I'm sorry to report wasn't strong. Although, I am holding to the conviction that had I been given a written copy of their speeches, I would have been able to translate it.

The food was delicious! I chose the vegetarian option and it was layers varying squashes wrapped in roasted red pepper and topped with some sort of sour cream or cream cheese. I also tried a bit of my friend's chicken. It was so juicy, and her mashed potatoes were perfectly creamy. My compliments to the chef.

After eating but before dancing ensued, my friend and I took the opportunity to pop into the photo booth they had set up. It was a really cute idea that I may steal for my own wedding. Guests could gather into a curtained off area (that accommodated many more than your average photo booth) to take photo booth pictures, with a variety of props if they so wish, and then paste them into a photo album with a cute little message.

Shortly after, everyone was invited onto dance floor. The DJ went through a few Top 40's before the band took back over and the real fun began. Let me tell you, Hispanics can dance! And I cannot. The groom's brother was such a sweetheart and tried to teach me, but it resulted in me learning nothing and him just spinning me around the dance floor. The groom even stepped in for a little bit, but my feet just do not move as quickly as they are supposed to. I need to take an agility class or go back to my high school basketball practices. Maybe I should start running more sprints. Quick was never an adjective I would use to describe myself, but I didn't realize that would hinder me off the athletic fields. Regardless, I made a valiant effort and certainly enjoyed myself.

My Irish roomie and I followed up our wedding date with a beach day. We headed back to Malibu to meet up with some friends of hers we have hung out with before. They're fun people, so I'm glad I got to see them again before my summer in L.A. comes to a close.

One thing you need to know about California beaches, they can be pretty breezy. It was a particularly windy, though beautifully clear day. I was a bit chilly lying out in my bathing suit and didn't want to get out of the suns rays to lie under our umbrella for fear of getting too cold. So I stayed in the sun...for all 5 hours we were there.

After my great victory over the sun in the deserts of Lancaster, you would think 5 hours on a beach wouldn't be an issue. What is that compared to a whole day in the desert sun? Apparently, I did not do as well in my reapplying because I am burnt to a crisp. This is easily my worst burn since the blistered and purpled shins I came home with on my senior class trip. It is an all encompassing burn that makes it hurt to sit, stand, and lie down. There is not enough aloe vera in the world for me right now. My body is radiating so much heat, I could be used as a space heater. I hope I recover by the end of the week or it will be a long drive home.

Heather: 1 Skin cancer: 1

Meeting the Pacific Ocean

Have you ever nailed an interview while simultaneously shooting yourself in the foot? No? Well then, you must not be Heather Maggi.

I had my interview with Voltage Pictures on Wednesday. They are an Academy Award winning production company. I walked in and loved the atmosphere of the office immediately. It was very relaxed, I mean the guy that interviewed me was wearing jeans and a Captain America shirt. It reminded me a lot of my internship last summer in Dublin. He took me into a small corner conference room with floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the street corner, and I sat at a table made from a slab of wood. Too cool.

Things seemed to be going well when he asked me what I was hoping to learn from the company. I dove into a speech about my passion for post-production. He explained that they wouldn't have any projects in post until July, then had to excuse himself for a phone call. I admired the view while thinking how the timing of the their projects was another similarity between this summer and last summer. When he returned, he told me that it was great to meet me and to definitely stay in contact, and they'll get me back in come July to intern in the post-production department. That was that.

I walked back to my car cursing myself for putting so much emphasis on editing and wondering what I was going to do for over a month. I had that offer from the reality TV production company, but I hated to return to them and say, "I accept your offer...but only for a month." After thinking it over, I decided to email my interviewer the following day expressing my interest to learn about all aspects of production and inquiring about the possibility of coming in sooner than July. He had been on top of replying to my emails up to this point, so I figured I would have my answer soon enough.

In the mean time, I met up with my Dublin roommate for some California exploration. Thursday we went to the Griffith Observatory, and I got a great view of L.A. and the Hollywood sign while also learning all about the solar system.

Afterward, I went back to her house for the night. We got up early to meet her friend for a hike at Lizard Rock. I got to see a more natural side of California, and it was beautiful, complete with pretty flowers and a waterfall. Once we cleaned up from our hike, she and I hit the road for an afternoon in Santa Barbara. We made a quick stop in the cute town of Ventura for lunch at a 50's diner she frequents when she and her mom make the trip. After Ventura, I got my first look at the Pacific Ocean. I was literally driving right next to it! One swerve and I'd be driving in the ocean (provided I didn't get hit by any oncoming traffic), hence why the 101 is also known as the Pacific Coast Highway. What a relaxing  drive it was. We explored the shops on State Street before heading to the beach.

However, after all our time there, we had not happened upon Shawn, Gus, or their Psych office. I did a quick Google search and much to my dismay, Psych is actually filmed in British Columbia.

If you're keeping track, you will realize it is now Saturday, and I still hadn't heard back from my correspondent at Voltage Pictures. Not one to sit around, I continued to peruse Entertainment Careers for internship opportunities. I came across one for work in the art department of a feature film from June  4th to July 3rd. I'd never given much thought to the art department, and decided to look into what that entails. Turns out, the art department covers everything from carpentry and architecture to set dressing and costumes. It sounded like a fun new opportunity and a great way to experience on the set of a feature film. I applied to that, along with a few others, before joining my friend for a Memorial weekend barbeque. While we were sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows at the end of the night, I couldn't resist the urge to check my email. To my delight, there was an invitation to an interview at a coffee shop on Monday. I guess we'll see just how artsy I can be!