Happy New Year and All That Jazz!

My God, has it really been almost a month since my last blog entry? Sheesh, where does the time go? I suppose it has something to do with the holidays. It's so easy to get caught up in the rigamarore (sp?) of attending Christmas parties, making sure you cook something for said parties, and maneuvering traffic at the malls that it kind of leaves you exhuasted at the end of the day.

My holiday season was fairly nice. I spent Christmas Eve with my friend Jerry, who had a bunch of his friends over for a wonderful dinner (I brought wine, I admit; I was too lazy to cook this year). I actually spent Christmas day alone at my apartment just chilling and watching some of my favorite holiday-themed shows and movies for the second year in a row. And, while some people might find such a notion rather depessing, I have to say, I really enjoy it. I made a nice simple dinner for myself and played Christmas music and lit candles and watched some great stuff.

Speaking of great holiday entertainment, does anyone else recognize that Meet Me in St. Louis makes great Christmas viewing? I try to watch it every year around the holidays, because I just think it's one of the greatest musicals ever made, and, of course, there's that whole Judy Garland connection. LOL! (Yes, yes, I love Judy. I admit it. And why not? The bitch could sing, dance and act her ass off. You name me one entertainer today who is half as talented as Judy was. Well, OK, maybe Liza, but she's too busy allegedly beating up closeted gay husbands to do anything new, though I did love her on Arrested Development last season. But I digress.) Back to Meet Me in St. Louis, there's just something so wonderful about watching this very close family living in such a much simpler time that really inspires me. I think that it speaks to me, since I've really been trying to simplify my life in the past few years. No more drama, no more strife, just living each day as it comes and basking in the small, simple things that really inspire joy in the heart. (For those of you puking at the sentimentality of that statement, maybe it would help to get your fingers out of your throats, you cynical wise-asses. Haha)

Anyway, the week in between Christmas and New Year's was rather low-key for me, as I'm sure it was for everyone else. New Year's itself was rather uneventful. My buddy Mike and I went out to the bars around Silver Lake and I was in bed by 3am, rather early for me when I don't have to be up the next day.

I spent New Year's Day itself much like I did Christmas, just bumming around the apartment and watching TV. This time I pulled out my DVD of Rudolph's Shiny New Year (right), one of my favorite kiddie holiday specials, and just had a blast watching it for the first time in so long. It made me feel like I was 8 years old again. There's just something great about watching stuff like this as an adult that isn't celebrated enough. Why grow up? I'm a Toys 'R' Us kid! Haha. Later, my buddy Mike and I had a few drinks over in West Hollywood and bummed around town for a bit. It was a good way to start 2006. Two days after that I celebrated my 35th birthday (I'm officially a MAN now, thank you very much; no more calling me "just a puppy," OK???).

The very next day, I left for Las Vegas to cover the Internext Convention, which is sponsored by AVN Online and was simultaneously running alongside the Adult Entertainment Expo and CES, the computer convention. Let me just tell you; the Venetian Hotel and Casino was a friggin' madhouse, but I had the time of my life meeting new people and making new friends, I didn't really even notice until I was late for a seminar and everybody was in my way. Which is really nothing at all unlike driving in Los Angeles, so I was pretty used to it. Haha. (For those who would like a more detailed account of my adventures in Sin City, I will be posting a Vegas wrap-up -- complete with pics -- very soon, so stay tuned.)

I returned to Los Angeles this past Sunday tired and exhausted, and took Monday off work to recuperate. Since smoking is allowed in Vegas, I came back thoroughly parched, with a voice that was slowly giving out. I think it's finally starting to come back to me now. Which is good, 'cuz God knows I love talking.

Anyway, we're in a jam to get the next issue of AVN Online out, so things are a little busy at work, which has made freelance writing a little difficult this week, but I have been doing some music reviews the past few nights. I turned a couple in to the editor at Performing Songwriter, who wrote back to tell me that she didn't think my style was suited to the magazine, but I'm not one who takes no for an answer, so I quickly rewrote the reviews and resubmitted them to her today. If it works out, that'd be great. I'm fairly certain that I can write just about anything well if given proper feedback and provided just a little bit of patience.

Last night I saw The Squid and the Whale, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I really thought Jeff Daniels did a great job in the movie, as did Laura Linney. The way the film examines the anatomy of a divorce is very original, almost rooted in the absurdist comedy of Wes Anderson (who, incidentally, produces). Don't forget to check out my movie reviews on my new film review site, by the way. This week I will be posting my favorite films of 2005. I also checked out Woody Allen's Match Point earlier in the week, and was equally impressed.

One of my old "boyfriends" is out in L.A. this week, so we are planning to get together and hang out this weekend. We talked for over an hour on the phone last night, just laughing and carrying on like old times, which was really nice, considering that I was pretty bummed out over him for quite some time after it ended. I guess I am growing up after all.

Anyway, I really do have to run along now. Hope you are all well, and I shall be in touch soon.

XOXO,
Hollywood Ken