Where's Wendy?
Gregg's friend and mine, Wendy Calhoun, puts on a series at Writers Guild, "Writing In Color." The last one we went to, for "Justified," with Wendy on the panel, was really good, and we went again Tuesday night -- to the same place the thing had taken place before, the Writers Guild Theater on Doheny.
They had a big buffet dinner last time, after the event, and this time it was before. I got us some plates of food, and we ate, and then we kept noticing that Wendy wasn't there, which was odd, since it was her event.
We also noticed that there didn't seem to be a whole lot of "writers of color" there, which seemed odd. Just to confirm that we were there on the right night, I finally asked a woman standing near us if she was there for the "Writing In Color" series. She said, no, it was "Bible Study For Entertainment Professionals."
"You're kidding, right?" I said to her. (How did she know exactly how to mess with big ole atheist me?)
Actually, it was exactly the event. Wendy's event was at the Writers Guild building on Third and Fairfax, and we apparently weren't the only ones who'd made this mistake. Live here long enough, and you start to feel you can just skip reading the invite very closely; you know where to go.
We got to the actual event not long after it started, but it was kind of hilarious: We'd already had dinner and validated free parking.
And in case you don't believe me, here's the evidence: 
Didn't Willy Loman say, "Attention must be paid?" But really, when the both of you sharp guys missed it, I'm thinking it wasn't made obvious enough.
Hope you had a decent bite to eat at least.
BlogDog at August 17, 2011 6:30 AM
Gregg is a man the way men used to be men, so I didn't even look at the invitation. This was a very rare occurrence (in fact, a first-time occurrence) -- he's always the one who figures out the best way to get someplace, and he's the one I call to ask what time I need to leave my house to be downtown (and without going through hell).
Women who micromanage men tend to have icky relationships. The only thing I micromanage is Gregg's health. (I'll stand between him and a cracker with a medieval battle ax, but he can have all the bacon, eggs, steak and buttered green beans he wants.)
Amy Alkon at August 17, 2011 7:40 AM
Green beans are deadly. How do I know?
Every one of my grandparents ate green beans, and they are all dead now. Hell if you'll ever set those things in front of me.
Steve Daniels at August 17, 2011 9:08 AM
So, you guys owe those people a meal, right?
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at August 17, 2011 9:58 AM
You've piqued my interest. How is bible study for entertainment professionals different from bible story for regular people?
NikkiG at August 17, 2011 11:48 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/08/17/wheres_wendy.html#comment-2426322">comment from NikkiGI think Christians (as well as libertarians/people on the right) feel a little fringe in Hollywood.
Amy Alkon
at August 17, 2011 12:13 PM
"You're kidding, right?" I said to her. (How did she know exactly how to mess with big ole atheist me?)
Let me get this straight Amy: you made the mistake of going to the wrong building, eating the wrong group's food, etc. etc. Then when another attendee (who happens to be a believer) tells you (at your own request, btw) that you're in the wrong place, she's messing with you???
Frankly I'm beginning to think your problem with religious believers is just the simple fact that we exist.
qdpsteve at August 17, 2011 12:18 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/08/17/wheres_wendy.html#comment-2426336">comment from qdpsteveUm, qpdsteve...best to apply sense of humor when reading something like this.
It seemed like a perfect joke -- that we were not only not at Wendy's event, but at the last event I'd be interested in going to.
I have plenty of friends who are Christians and Jews -- I'll probably see a couple this afternoon (Christian and Jewish, who believe). I actually like that they exist, although I think they're silly for believing, sans evidence, in the Big Man In The Sky Who Cares If You Don't Tell The Grocery Clerk She Gave You More Change Than You Deserved.
Sergeant Heather likewise thinks I'm an idiot for driving a car she calls "a cute deathtrap."
Being an adult means that you sometimes have friends you don't agree with on all things, 'kay? And that you don't get all insulted that some people think you're kind of childish and gullible or not very sensible for your beliefs (in the car example, for example).
Amy Alkon
at August 17, 2011 12:24 PM
So who had better food?
Ben David at August 17, 2011 12:39 PM
Probably the christinas. I got this great recipe for scalloped potates, 3/5ths of is total mass is sour cream and butter
lujlp at August 18, 2011 7:47 PM
I think Christians (as well as libertarians/people on the right) feel a little fringe in Hollywood.
Posted by: Amy Alkon Author Profile Page at August 17, 2011 12:13 PM
That reminds me.
In 2005, I got a call from dove dot org (it has to do with "cleaning up" TV and movies - they say their reviews are "based on traditional Judeo-Christian values") asking if I felt there should be more wholesome, non-prurient family entertainment available (not in those exact words - though he did *claim* that the group is not pro-censorship).
I deadpanned: "I think kids should read more."
He ended that survey quickly.
Since this was a high-speed survey, I knew I wouldn't be allowed time to say what I'd have liked to:
1) That even the late, anti-TV critic Neil Postman wrote in "Amusing Ourselves to Death" that we would all be better off if TV got worse, not better, if only because it would force us to realize that we're not really educating ourselves properly by watching it, even at its best.
2) That, because of #1, even if young people had nothing to watch but Disney, I still wouldn't want to live in a world where they kept watching the same pablum over and over and they never tried to challenge their brains and make themselves useful.)
lenona at August 20, 2011 8:42 AM
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