Nik: Every Thanksgiving my family watches Christmas movies while we work through the turkey coma. It’s always the same… Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story.  Each year, I notice something new; usually in Christmas Vacation (btw, I live for Chevy Chase’s monologue at the end), but this year I learned something deeply profound from Elf. My sister and I were sifting through the Black Friday deals in the newspaper while simultaneously bashing the hordes of morons who actually shop on that day (us included–it’s a love/hate affair) and while we were sifting, Mary Steenburgen’s character asked Buddy how he slept and he responded with, “Great! I got a full 40 minutes!” My sister and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. I mean can you imagine if I was that excited about getting only 40 minutes of sleep? My sister said that’s what makes the movie so funny–Buddy sees everything as positive and expresses himself in an overtly excited way even in a negative situation. That’s the genius of it. I told my sister that we should try saying everything like Buddy–specifically if it was something we were complaining about. The challenge was real. We both discovered how negative we were. We ventured out on Black Friday and it was cold. And busy. And did I say really cold? At one point I said, “I’m freezing my ass off.” My sister corrected me and said, “You mean… I’m freezing my ass off!!!” She didn’t change the words, she just changed the attitude behind them. Instead of my sourpuss and snark, she said it like Buddy would’ve, with a huge smile and loads of excitement, and the freezing cold suddenly became very funny. We did it for the rest of my vacation. Not only did we become aware of our attitudes and how much we were complaining, but we actually stopped complaining all together because when we did, we sounded so ridiculous. There you go. Wisdom from Elf.
Alex: MY BACK REALLY HURTS! It’s SUPER! You’re right, it’s kind of fun. No one likes a cotton-headed ninnymuggins.
Nik: Right?!
Alex: Super right!
Nik: Double thumbs up!
Alex: High five!
Nik: Fist bump!
Alex: Chest bump!
Nik: Whoa.
Alex: You mean WHOA!

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Alex: I did it! Holy shitcakes Nik, I finished the FIRST draft of my pilot! I don’t even know how to tell you what I’m feeling right now. I’ve never been this far along on a creative project in my life. 54 pages. Read em’ and weep baby. I feel like I could run an entire marathon right now. Honestly, nothing could make me angry in this moment. I’ll prove it. Try to say something that you think will make me mad.
Nik: I can’t because I’m so flipping happy right now!
Alex: C’mon try!
Nik: Uh… I slept with Aaron Rodgers while I was in GB.
Alex: See? Not mad!
Nik: Yeah, that’s more high five worthy anyway. Seriously though, I’m so proud of you. Finishing a script is a HUGE accomplishment. You stepped up and you got it done.
Alex: It’s moments like this that I realize hard work really does pay off. I know I still have a ways to go until it’s ready for you to read, but I proved to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. Even better, I proved to myself that I am a writer. I had many late nights at the office finishing this, and I know I still have many more to come. But it doesn’t scare me. I had to remind myself to think long-term gratification rather than short-term gratification. Whenever I needed a dose of motivation I’d read Quotes Porn. I stayed in a lot, missed out on a few parties and dinners. But this feeling beats any party, any food. Even pizza. And if I’m honest, I’m more excited to be done with this project so I can move on to the next one. I have a pocket full of other ideas that I’m ready to play with. Life is good, Nik. Thank you for inspiring me on the days I felt defeated. You a bad ass bitch, I learned from the best.
Nik: We need to celebrate.
Alex: With pizza?
Nik: Anything you want.
Alex: A naked Aaron Rodgers feeding us Pizza.

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Nik: Holy crap, look what I found…
Alex: Booze AND dessert? Am I dreaming? Is this real life?
Nik: Oh, it’s real. The Larry King Heart Bar made my chakras tingle.
Alex: Say tingle again.
Nik: Tingle again.
Alex: (puppy dog eyes)
Nik: Really?
Alex: (fake cries)
Nik: Please stop.
Alex: (fake cries louder)
Nik: Fine. Tingle.
Alex:  How many of these do I need to eat to get drunk?
Nik: There’s only one way to find out.
Alex: Me. You. BuzzBars. Friday.
Nik: That sounds so gross.
Alex: And like every man’s fantasy.
Nik: Yeah, two chicks pounding ice cream bars on a Friday night in sweats. Hot.
Alex: We can rub them on ourselves and then have a pillow fight so the feathers stick…
Nik: Fun!
Alex: Should we invite the real Larry King?
(silence)
Alex: Wait, were you kidding?

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Nik: Alex! We need to make Pina Ghouladas! I found this recipe on Martha Stewart’s site.
Alex: What were you doing on Martha Stewart?
Nik: Looking at stuff.
Alex: No comment.
Nik: What? She has cool recipes and crafts.
(silence)
Nik: I’m being really serious right now.
Alex: Me too.

INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE “BLOOD”
3 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 teaspoons red food coloring
FOR THE DRINK
20 ounces pineapple juice
1 can (15 ounces) cream of coconut
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup orange juice
10 ounces good-quality rum

DIRECTIONS:
Pour the corn syrup in a shallow bowl. Dip a toothpick into the food coloring, and stir a very small amount into the syrup to combine. Hold a glass by the stem, dip rim into the syrup mixture, and turn glass, coating entire rim. Turn the glass upright, allowing mixture to drip down sides. Dip the remaining glasses. Set aside.

Whisk together drink ingredients. Place 2 1/2 cups ice in a blender, and add 1 cup drink mixture. Blend until smooth; add more pineapple juice if mixture is too thick. Repeat with remaining ice and mixture. Carefully pour into prepared glasses; serve.

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Alex: My favorite thing about LA is that I am constantly surrounded by other artists who inspire me. I love learning about the different process each of them has when working on a project. A friend of mine is the lead singer in this LA-based Duo called Midnight Faces and I am obsessed with their song Animal right now. It’s on repeat when I have a long drive. Their video is cool too. It’s just creepy enough to keep you watching. The song spotlights the disturbing side of love and how no one is immune to going crazy.  In a recent interview on Noisey, vocalist Philip Stancil broke down the track: “It’s about holding onto something that’s gone. Most people, myself included, seem to convince themselves that somehow things will go back to the way they once were, even after it’s turned to shit. It’s really terrible, because everyone around you sees how crazy you’re acting over losing something, but you’re the last one to come to your senses about it.”
Nik: I love it.
Alex: Like-love or love-love?
Nik: Holding-on-to-something-that’s-gone-love.
(long pause)
Alex: Deep.

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Alex: I feel like EVERYTHING has been done before. It’s annoying and irritating and makes me want to pull my hair out and kick my computer screen off my desk and scream like a child who just found out that Christmas isn’t happening this year. While I was writing a scene  last night, I thought of a concept for my next pilot. Later, after I was done writing, I danced with the new idea for a bit. I decided to do a little research and within 30 seconds I discovered it’s already been made into a show. I put away my phone and pouted like a little girl until I fell asleep. Why? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY!?
Nik: My first pilot was in development until the network called and said they were passing on the project because it was in conflict with a show that had been picked up to series.  And by ‘in conflict’ they meant that it was too similar.  So.  I’ve been there.  And it sucks.  But it happens and it happens all the time. Not long after, I found myself at this great art exhibit at the Whitney Museum in New York and it was life changing.  The show had pieces from all the greats hanging in couplets–I can’t remember exactly, but it was something like Picasso’s Bathers with Beach Ball hanging next to Nudes With Beach Ball by Roy Lichtenstein and so on.  They were clearly inspired by one or the other.  They were of the same subject, but in the artist’s own style and medium.  It’s the same with music.  And it’s the same with writing.  Very little is 100% original.  It’s almost impossible to achieve.  But you know what’s original?  YOUR voice.  Not one single person has your voice or your experience or your spin on the story that you want to tell.  If your idea is already out there, then figure out a way to make it new.  Add your vision and your voice and make the idea YOURS.  If it’s something that has been done, ask yourself how you can make it fresh.
Alex: You just gave me goosepimples! You are so right. You’re always right. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a smart mentor but I sure am thankful. I copied and pasted this response into my phone so I can read it whenever I’m frustrated with this subject. I do have a voice and I’m excited to share it with the world. A wise woman once said, “There’s a storm in my head, the world should take cover.”
Nik: If only we had more twitter followers to see those nuggets.
Alex: Ugh… I haven’t had chicken nuggets in so long.
Nik: Me either. Let’s tweet about it.
Alex: And eat about it.

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Alex:  If you have not heard of IN-Q then your life isn’t as complete as it could be. His poetry is my new obsession. His message, his passion, his wisdom is so raw and real. I can’t get enough. I saw him at an Allen Stone concert last year, but I didn’t know who he was. He came out during Allen’s set and performed “85“. Everyone in the audience was silent, taking in his words, his knowledge. Last Saturday, at a party, I met this guy who said he was working with a poet. I told him that I love poetry and we got to talking and exchanged emails. He promised he would send me some of his work. He held true to that promise and when I clicked on the first video, within seconds I realized it was the same amazing poet I saw at the Allen Stone concert! I watched all of his videos over and over again. He is brilliant. He is the definition of inspiration.
Nik: I love poetry. This is great.

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Alex: I really enjoy lunch time because I get to listen to the writers talk about their favorite shows and other cool things they’ve done lately. Today one of my co-workers was talking about this interactive haunted play called Delusion. It’s supposed to make you feel like you are in a scary movie. Are you a scaredy cat? I am but for some reason I really want to do this. You have to sign a waiver because you run and crawl and people touch you. We have to buy our tickets soon because they’re half sold out already. I’ve never been into this kind of stuff but I’m all game right now. What’s gotten into me!?
Nik: It looks very cool.  I’m not sure I can get down with strangers touching me though.
Alex: C’mon pretend like you’re in college.
Nik: Only my boyfriends touched me.  And even on my drunkest night I never crawled through the woods on my knees.  I did fall in a snow bank once.  And ask a female cop to arrest me.
Alex: Was she hott?
Nik: No, she looked like a dude, but I wanted to be handcuffed.
Alex: Kinky, I like it.
Nik: You would.  Should we go?
Alex: YES!

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Alex: Today was so exciting, Nik!!! I took notes for the first time in the writers’ room. Well, it wasn’t the main room but who cares. The writers split up into two groups and I was pulled into one of them to take notes on character arcs. I loved hearing how they brainstormed ideas. How they took turns talking and giving pitches. It was so cool to see them debate and question each other. Honestly, it was magical. I can’t tell you how hard it was to stay focused. At times my brain would wander… I wanted to play too! It feels incredible to be working somewhere where I want to move up the ladder. I had to bite my tongue so many times because I had an idea I wanted to share but I know what I say right now doesn’t matter. I bet you kill it in the writers’ room.
Nik: First of all, everything you have to say matters, there’s just a certain way to do it when you’re at your level.  You should keep notes of your ideas and if they aren’t pitched, then find the right time to approach one of the writers and offer them.  I know from working on the blog with you that you have good instincts, so my guess is that you have great ideas for the show.  It’s more about room politics.  Just feel out the mood and  float your ideas when the time is right.  Slowly, if you find that your ideas are sticking or you’re getting good feedback, you’ll gain their trust and they’ll be more open to hearing your pitches.  This is all good stuff.  I’m so proud of you and more than anything I’m happy you’re gaining experience and finding that you love it more and more.  Tells me that you made the right decision when you chose this job over A&R at Epic.
Alex: I just clapped when I read this.
Nik: Why?
Alex: Because I am so happy. Even though making that decision made me stressed as a mother, I know I made the right choice. It has never been more clear that I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
Nik: Made you stressed?
Alex: I know, I hate using that word around you.

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Alex: Not going to lie, Dangerdust inspired me today. My favorite is “Know how to spell a word more than one way.” – Mark Twain. Which one is your favorite?
Nik: Um.
Alex: Chalkboard art doesn’t do it for ya?
Nik: Everything is just so nice now. I mean, remember the days when you’d go to school and there was a permanent marker dick on your locker?
Alex: Yeah, I was really into MASH. Did you ever play that game?
Nik: Huh?
Alex: Man, you’re old.
Nik: I really don’t know what MASH is.  Or why we’re talking about it.
Alex: It’s a game where you pick three people that you’re going to marry, three places you’re going to live and three potential cars you’re going to drive.  It basically predicts your future.
Nik: I’m so lost.
Alex: Me too. Just pick a favorite quote for the sake of this post.
Nik: “With enough butter anything is good.” – Julia Child
Alex: You would.

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