-I still can’t believe how miraculous it is that there was ONE survivor out of more than 150 passengers who survived the tragic jet crash in the Indian Ocean earlier this week. I think someone should approach that 14-year-old girl now and have her sign on to do a book/movie in 2014. For those people out there like me who believe everything (for the most part) happens for a reason, I’m curious what this girl does with her life after being the sole survivor on a flight where everyone else perished.

- Ha! Just heard Brad Pitt’s motorcycle broke down in a residential neighborhood today and with few options- he hitched a ride with a paparazzi. The photos are funny (see right) and Papa Pitt is lookin’ hot!

-    Early last year I was wrongly advised I should invest in the stock market to learn a little bit about investing. Worse, I was advised to spend all of my investment investing in stock for American Apparel. Besides my current stock balance being in the single digits, it seems like the company constantly gives new reasons for the stocks to dip.  Shortly after settling a lawsuit with Woody Allen, today, in response to news the government is clamping down on companies that employ illegal immigrants, I read American Apparel put out a news release stating they have 1,600 + workers that ‘may not be authorized to work in the U.S.” Oy veh.

- A series of minor frustrations today. Going to boxing class now to punch it out. Hope you all have a good night and hopefully you’re starting the weekend off right with the day off tomorrow like me. I’ll be spending Friday in Zuma Beach surfing ;) xo

In the decade plus that I’ve been interviewing celebrities there are few who have left such an impression that I remember vivid details.

There was Cyndi Lauper in the late 90s, my first phone interview and besides the horror of the tape not recording, what I took away from that was ‘Yes, Cyndi’s voice is really that high, always’ and she was nice and respectful. Being on the West Coast at the time (still in college at ASU) when she was on the East Coast, it was around 6am when she called and said, ‘Hi Jen, it’s Cyndi. Is it too early? Do you want me to try to call again later?” Um…

Then I remember interviewing David Sedaris and being put on hold so he could order an ashtray to his room, and being regaled by a tale of his love for smoking that had me in tears. Angelina Jolie didn’t have anyone with her (other than Maddox) and seemed to give the most sincere responses. Interviewing Christian Slater, alone on a patio on the Hudson Pier, was everything I’d hoped it would be as he had me mesmerized by the voice that made him my tween crush. Then there’s Callum Blue, who quite honestly I’d never heard of prior to our scheduled phone interview -five years ago- but I haven’t forgotten since.

When I spoke to Callum, while he was on a show called Dead Like Me, I remember he was doing the interview while in the car on the way to pick his mom up from the airport. What I took away from that was that he that he was very funny, charming (English accents go a long way with me) and maybe I should watch  Dead Like Me sometime. I didn’t, but was happy to see him in the first season of The Tudors. I was even happier to see him yesterday, at my house!

I got home yesterday to find an envelope, clearly addressed to Callum Blue, with my address on it, on my mail table. My friend Amber had stopped by a few minutes before I got home and said Callum’s agent dropped it off and Callum would be by to pick it up. Random. We questioned (hopefully) if he was the tenant who signed a lease on the vacant unit upstairs the day before…I’d just walked in from the gym. My hair was dripping wet from sweat (less than attractive) and I was starving and late for dinner. That said, I decided to take a shower and risk missing meeting Callum – although I advised Amber to stall should he arrive.

There was a knock on the door as soon as I turned off the water. I listened as Amber handed Callum the envelope. Then, as Callum introduced himself and told Amber it was a really nice house (my house) and that he was staying upstairs with a friend I happen to know. It was all too much for me to just listen to – and I ran out to the living room, dressed in a towel, with another on my head, and smudges of mascara still streaming down my face. He told me I looked familiar. I told him I interviewed him several years ago – over the phone.  I felt like a starstruck fan (I just watched the “Samantha Who’ episode about her acting like a gushing fan the night before). He said he was leaving tomorrow (today) to MOVE to Vancouver where he’s going to be the new villain on Smallville (which happens to be one of my mother’s favorite shows).

I’m going to Vancouver next month to see Kings of Leon. Perhaps our paths will cross there again. Perhaps I’ll be in more suitable attire.

I’ve found a clothing line with a philosophy I can really relate to.
I was recently introduced to Junk Gyspy, an online store filled with finds from the females in the Sikes family – two sisters and a mom who travel about collecting gems from jewelry to clothing and home décor that they think should be rescued and sold to someone who will appreciate them. (http://www.gypsyville.com/)

They say “We believe in the journey, not the destination,” as they take roads less traveled to uncover treasures in places many shoppers wouldn’t normally look.

Like the Sikes, I’ve long said for me life is about enjoying the journey, not reaching the destination – because what happens if you spend your whole life just commuting, and then don’t even like the place you find yourself at the end?

Also like the Sikes, I’m fortunate to have a lot of things. The things are a combination of my shopping habit (not Confessions of a Shopaholic bad, just an art that I’m adept at), gift bags from parties etc.

All of this ‘stuff’ has allowed me to re-gift often, send packages home to friends and family and have products aplenty for houseguests. It’s also helped me discover new things --I’m newly obsessed with Mally make-up. I have, thanks to swag bags and samples I get sent, a vanity full of make-up at home that could rival the cosmetic section of a drug store, but the other day I was sent a bunch of Mally, that’s sold on QVC, and it’s a collection of all the colors I love in adorable portable packaging. Who would have thought of shopping on QVC for makeup?

But, I digress. Given all of my stuff, I’m giving others a chance to be like the Junk Gypsies and come over to my house for a friends swap – which in the recession era I think is a fun way to have an afternoon party.

For my stuff swap, I sent out the following email, with the attached photo of Miranda Lambert in Junk Gypsy:

Like the Jewish grandmother who just doesn't know how to throw anything away,
and in the vein of 'one man's trash is another's treasure,’ I’m planning a Jewish Garage Sale party.

I'm cleaning out my closets and rather than throw away random products and accessories or give away clothes I'm just bored of (or won't fit me no matter how long they hang in the closet), I think it would be fun to have a friend swap.

I'm sure many of you are like me and have more than tidily fits in the storage space of your home, so bring your things to my house, mark them $1 to $20 and lets trade things for nearly free with the proceeds going to an agreed upon charity.

For example, I was sent this darling Junk Gypsy tank top (as seen on Miranda Lambert) the other day - but there are certain places that a size small tank just doesn't fit me ;) Brand new, looking to go home with someone who will actually wear it ;)

Cheers ;) xo

Following my fantastic experience learning to surf with the Oakley pros a few weeks ago, I eagerly went surfing again the following weekend – but was much less enchanted surfing in the fast and furious Santa Monica waves while teenage instructors pushed me out on the board after I’d just been smacked in the head with it and had hardly got back on.

That said, to avoid losing the love of my newfound hobby, and because I promised my little sister who was visiting from NYC that I’d take her, I went further up the coast to Pacific Palisades at 7:45am Saturday (the hours the hobby entails are something I’m going to have to negotiate) to try again.

I’m happy to report it was an amazing experience, thanks in no small part to sensational surf instructor Tom Grubbs, cooperative, calm enough waves – and a good amount of eye candy ;)

If anyone is in the market to learn to surf, Tom’s your man. Tom is thorough, patient, makes you feel safe in the water, has great boards, cute wetsuits, had us all riding waves, even though for half the girls it was their first day – and he seems to know, and have taught, most of the people on the beach.

When we first got there out of the corner of my eye I think I saw Heroes star Adrian Pasdar walk by and on the beach Tom said hi to a bunch of boys, including plastic surgeon Peter Grossman of the Grossman Burn Centers, before regaling us with tales of what a great man Peter is and the work he does to help others.

Tom’s a great guy who genuinely cares about his students – at least makes us feel like he does. As soon as he has a slot for another lesson later than 7am, I can’t wait to get back out in the water with him again.  Check out more on Tom and his surf school at www.surfingla.com - just make sure to make your lessons pre-7am.

Hope you all had a good weekend and did something to raise your spirits after a bleak week in pop culture history :/ xo