Crazy Jersey Folks

I am having a fun time in New Jersey visiting my in laws. They are just wild. I am having a tough time keeping up with them. We have been on the go since we got here on Tuesday morning. It has been party or social event after another.

On Tuesday I went to my first Hanukkah party. It was great fun. Tomorrow night we are headed to New York City in a limo to see the Broadway musical Hairspray. I have heard great things about the show. Then we are having a big New Years Party on Saturday. Next week the whole family is going to the spa and the list of festivities goes on and on. When ever we are back here we always have fun.

Back Home

I am having such a good time back home in the Pacific Northwest. We have been going from relative's house to friend's house making sure we visit everyone. On Monday I was back in the town I grew up in. It is always interesting going back to my home town. It feels like a step back in time. Everywhere I go I see people I know from high school or even as far back as elementary school. I felt like Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama when she flew from New York and went back to her home town in Alabama (especially the scene in the bar where she makes a fool of herself). I think the last time I got down and crazy was the last time I was back home 3 years ago.

On Wednesday we went skiing on the ski mountain I learned how to ski on 16 years ago. It was a great time, I just love skiing. As I was sitting on the ski lift freezing cold I couldn't stop think what was better being in the ocean swimming, body surfing and surfing in the warm sun but fearing at any moment Jaws will come take me away or skiing in the beautiful woods and freezing my butt off. I think it is a toss up.

On Thursday we headed to my mom's house. I love coming to my mom's house because it feels like I am stepping into Martha Stewart's home. It is so welcoming and festive for the holidays. We cooked all day yesterday and will cook all day today for the Christmas party we are having tonight. There will be a ton of people here. I just love parties. (Pictures: Top Picture, Jon, Kylynn, Me, Chris, and Darcy at the ski mountain, Next Picture, Jon feeding my cousins son Gabrial, Next Picture, Me with Gabrial, Bottom Picture Darcy showing off her skills)

Brrrrrrr....

Well we arrived safely in the beautiful northwest and it is darn cold. I have traded my flip flops for Uggs and tank tops for itchy sweaters. I did enjoy my hot latte from Starbucks today. I think next year my family should all come to Hawaii for Christmas.

I am enjoying my time off from the set. We have a jam packed two weeks, full of family, eating, presents and more eating. I have to be careful not to eat too much holiday food because I bet Eve and Michele will be good and not eat too many Christmas cookies. If they don't gain those 5 holiday pounds, well then neither can I.

I have been getting complaints that Lost is showing re runs. All I have to say is I am happy they are playing re runs because that means I get paid again, 100% of what I made the first time the stunt aired. So remember that next time you watch re runs and smile for me. I tell you I do all the way to the bank.

Christmas Time in Hawaii

It is very strange spending December in a warm tropical climate. It just doesn't feel like the holidays. I guess I associate Christmas time with, sipping hot chocolate (it is too hot here to drink hot drinks), sitting by the fire (the only fire you sit by in Hawaii are the tiki torches), baking cookies (it is too hot to bake cookies), big sweaters, scarves and mittens and finally snow. I absolutely love the hot weather and living in a tropical climate but it isn't easy to be festive here.

We listen to Christmas music in the car with the air conditioning on which just takes something way from the words, "Let it snow, let it snow, let is snow". We are headed back to the cold weather on Thursday and I am not looking forward to the cold but I am looking forward to drinking a hot peppermint mocha from Starbucks and wearing an itchy bulky wool sweater. We will be gone for over 2 week just enough time to enjoy the cold weather with Christmas. It is strange how I associate cold weather with the holidays. I guess you get use to what you get use to. Perhaps someday it will feel normal to have the air conditioning on listening to Christmas music, but I doubt it.

Holiday Party

Last night was the holiday party for the cast and crew of Lost. We had such a fun time. There was an open bar and pupus (that is what the Hawaiian's call appetizer). Unfortunately the pupus where mostly seafood, which I don't eat. I need to learn that Hawaii appetizer are not quiche and egg rolls but seafood and sushi. Wakiki (where the party was) was so crowded that Jon and I drove around for 45 minutes looking for a parking spot. I was so annoyed I almost gave up on going, but finally found a place.

Jon and I danced our hearts outs for hours. It was great. (Pictures: Upper Left, Sherwin (the executive producers assistant), Shelley (she works in the production office and is dating Sherwin), Jon and me, Upper Right, Shelley and me, Bottom, Rand (Michael's Stunt Double), Me and Jon)

Mold and Jeeps?

It seems every day in Hawaii I am reminded that I live on a tropical island in the middle of the pacific. Living in Hawaii I pretty much only wear flip flops (or sneakers when I work out). I went to pack my sweaters and my boots getting ready for my trip to the main land and found my shoes and sweaters covered in mold. It appears that my unworn clothes and shoes became covered in mold since I haven't worn them. One of the many interesting encounters I have had living in Hawaii.

Another interesting encounter this week was seeing the post man. Because the roads are so third world here the post man has to drive a Jeep. I took a picture because I couldn't believe it.
(Top Picture: Once boot clean and one boot covered in Mold from my closet, Bottom Picture: Our Post Man's Jeep)

My Car Hit

Could you tell where I was in the show last night? I was Kate's stunt double when her and the marshall where in the car and they swerved to miss the horse and ran into the telephone pole. I then kicked the marshall (Mike Trisler was his stunt double) out of the car and drove away. It was a little scary and exciting sitting in a car knowing we were going to crash into a telephone pole on purpose.

Trisler was driving when we hit the pole and I had to push the button to make the air bags go off. There was no movie magic we really hit the pole and actually almost knocked it over.

I had my teddy bear in the car with me. Here is a picture of me with Snuggles. I have started a tradition, he will always be in the car with me when I do car stunts. I have had Snuggles since I was about 2.

Jon was shooting for the extended DVD that night (you can see the camera in his hands in the picture). The guy who usually does it was out of town so they asked Jon to shoot that night. He did a great job.
(Pictures from top to bottom: Me in wardrobe outside the honey wagons; Jon, Mike Trisler (the marshall's stunt double), Me, Ashley (Trisler's 8 month pregnant wife), my Dad; Me with Snuggles)