We've been lying around like slugs (well, some of us have), longing for the cool green of the Northwest, getting re-acclimated to the California heat and lifestyle, and keeping an eye on a huge and smoky fire racing through the mountains north of L.A. Luckily, the hot Santa Ana gales are absent. But all that lush spring greenery is now lush fall brownery fueling the flames after a rainless summer. Our place is in no danger from fire, and we should be OK if we can just remember not to breathe.

We're always delighted when September arrives and we can lie in bed listening to school buses drive past and school bells and school PA just a block from our window. Most people love the morning bird songs. We love hearing others dealing with problem kids, problem parents, and problem principals who bark inane announcements every half-hour.

And we really love hearing Laurie say that she's coming for a visit in a few weeks. With Maggie driving herself to school these days, and with the rush of senior pictures and summer weddings over, Laurie can finally take a break and visit the old folks. We can hardly wait.

We just found a site called Mad as Hell Doctors' Care-a-Van, a September cross-country caravan of doctors and other folks who want real health care. Check it out to see what doctors think and when they will pass near you.

Fri 4 September
It's still hot, the fire continues (largest ever in L.A. County) and there's no action on the acting front – the story of our lives right now. Oh wait, David had his first choir practice since June last night. Pretty exciting, huh?

Actually is was fun when David got home about 9:30 and found Jane asleep in her recliner. She didn't stir when he burst into the house, so he took off his shoes, got into something comfortable, cut a slab of watermelon, settled into his recliner, put his feet up, turned on the TV and began working on the computer. After some time, Jane woke and we chatted a bit before her eyes widened. "Hey, you're supposed to be gone. How long did I sleep?" We both had a good laugh, since the intruder wasn't a burglar and no valuables were missing. We think. Pretty exciting, huh?

So why do we believe that we deserve excitement and drama in our lives? Well, yesterday we found an enlightening website called Curt Vonnegut on Drama that just might explain our fascination with movies, NASCAR and Desperate Housewives.

Tue 8 September
Jane has just fired her "new" commercial agent. He came highly recommended, but in four months he sent her on just two auditions and during the final month he would not even respond to her phone calls or emails. During the same time, her new just-out-of college theatrical agent got her a role on "The Sarah Silverman Program..." [oops, the secret is out] and an audition for "House." He will now represent her for commercials, too. He is young, enthusiastic, hungry, loves Jane's acting... and he doesn't ignore her.

Now about Sarah Silverman: Her weekly show on Comedy Central (cable) is aimed at teens and young adults. The new season will begin in January, we hear, and we'll post info about the date of Jane's brief appearance as soon as we know it.

And while we're name-dropping, how about Mike Rowe? Do you watch Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel (also on cable)? This former member of the Baltimore Opera and host of numerous TV shows with the body of a professional athlete and the personality and sense of humor of a standup comedian works almost constantly filming people doing the nastiest work you can imagine. And not just filming them – he gets right into it with them. This Labor Day and after some 250 hour-long shows, he has begun a MikeRoweWorks.com website in honor of America's men and women who do the unglamorous work that keeps our lives on track. For a great introduction to Mike and his website, check this out. Also: His site has links to help folks gain work skills, get training and financial aid, and learn to market themselves.

Mon 14 September
A new audition last week was all it took to spice up our lives. After all, auditions are our best justification to eat out, since we are... uh... out. With no auditions, we're stuck with our own cooking. But don't feel sorry for us. We still have to go OUT for groceries, shopping, and for eating out.

Last night we drove all the way into central Los Angeles to dine at an old Broadway landmark – the Clifton Cafeteria. It was once a must-see eatery, but now it reminds us both of being taken into downtown Houston as kids to eat at places like One's A Meal or the Woolworth's lunch counter, or maybe at Earl Abel's in San Antonio. We enjoyed their OK cafeteria fare and dined amid a rustic faux-forest scene complete with a huge fallen tree banister, a woodsy balcony with a "stone" ledge, and even a fake raccoon... or maybe a wombat... that kept popping up out of a hollow stump. Even today this might be charming were we not all so jaded after years of Disney, Spielberg and ultra-whiz-bang computer graphics.

Downtown L.A., especially this far from Disney Hall, is not a slick and classy place these days. The people here work hard for their money, no matter how they get it, and Clifton's Cafeteria seems to be their place "where everybody knows your name." The small twilight crowd was chatty and loud and in no hurry to rush off to appointments.

All this was a good Sunday night outing for two old suburban wimps. We live in our corner of this immense city, smug in thinking we know our way around.

We need to get out more.

Thu 17 September
Well whaddaya know? Last week's audition turned into a callback yesterday. But it must have gone pretty bad, because Jane came out muttering about giggling directors and "no warm feedback" from those in charge. Then we drove back home after a stop at Popeye's, our new comfort food station.

Jane talked to Pat last night and they commiserated for quite a awhile about the unfairness of life. Pat was also at the callback, but for some other commercial.

But this morning, as you have surely guessed, her agent called to say she is "on hold" for the gig. Jane is so excited that she doesn't even mind that the shoot would be next week while Laurie is here. And Laurie claims she would love to attend a commercial shoot.

Y'all keep y'all's fingers crossed.

Sat 26 September
What a great week this has been. The "on hold" for the Zale's commercial fell through. But Jane did get a consolation prize – an audition yesterday for The Office, one of her favorite shows. We'll keep you informed.

But the main event of the week was a visit from Laurie, our Texas daughter. She arrived Monday and we went straight to Long Beach for a visit and dinner with her high school pal, Amy Billington Toy, her husband and two cute daughters. By the time we headed home, the freeways were calm and stress-free.

On Tuesday we bustled about getting ready for a yard party for Laurie to meet our best California buddies, but the 104˚ afternoon heat forced it indoors – no easy feat in our motel room home. But by rearranging furniture and cranking up our trusty A/C and ceiling fan we managed to seat and feed 8 adults in near comfort. It was a fun evening.

Wednesday afternoon we went to a ritzy Hollywood neighborhood so Laurie could take photos of Jane, David and Pat at Pat's daughter's home. We knew it was Hollywood because a movie shoot was going on across the street and the area was clogged with trucks, generators, strange vehicles with booms and reflectors, and a lot of security cops on motorbikes.

Then we went to dinner at The Little Door – LA's "most romantic restaurant" – an anniversary gift from Mark, April and Laurie. The food was wonderful. The atmosphere was very nice. But we arrived at 6:00pm on one of the hottest nights of the summer and the restaurant was open-air. A later arrival would have been perfect, but we had a show to attend. Thank you, kids. It was a memorable night and an experience we surely would have missed without your thoughtfulness.

Finally we ran over for opening night at An Evening Without Monty Python produced by Eric Idle. A talented cast of imposters performed many of the beloved "silly bits" familiar to American kids. This might have been hilarious had the audience not been mouthing every beloved line and pining for the original cast. About an hour in, there was a brief monologue, the small cast assembled, sang "I'm a Lumberjack," took a bow and left the stage. Everyone sat and waited a bit... is this the intermission or an awkward end to a short show? The audience began wandering out. David asked a sound techie about this. "Yep, that's it... an 80-minute show," he said. "We're still working out the bugs."

So far that's our understatement of the week.

Laurie flew home Thursday to resume her hectic pace as mom, photographer, and co-producer of Tyler's Tailgate Kick-Off Hoop-dee Party on Friday for the release of his new CD. The boy's got TALENT! So does the mom. So does the whole family. We already miss y'all. A lot.

Wed 30 September
Monday afternoon as we reclined mindlessly with our TV and computer, the phone rang. It was Jane's agents who, while driving back from San Francisco, had just checked their computer (on the road!) and learned that Jane had an audition for a serious commercial that will be directed by Ron Howard (Ooooo! Aaahhh!) and she must get to Hollywood within 90 minutes dressed as the consummate British mother of the bride. So as Jane sprang into action and into her Brit mum suit, David scuttled about trying to get decent and round up all the stuff he'd need for his band rehearsal at 7:00 (more on that later.)

The traffic gods were kind, we zipped right through Beverly Hills (Yom Kippur) and Jane arrived on time. Sadly, Ron did not appear. Luckily, Granny was not expected to speak any British phrases. The trip home went equally well.

Tuesday brought another remarkable audition she had earned via an over-the-phone pre-screen last week. Her task was to recreate the low, growly voice of Christian Bale's Batman character. (That's OK. David doesn't understand, either.) They need someone who can go from a sweet tweety-bird granny to a snarly Batman for a cartoon commercial. We can't say any more. Jane was properlyly impressed that her competition included some of the top voice-over pros in LA, including Jim Ward, who does those amazing voices on Stephanie Miller's radio show.

Now, about that band rehearsal. David talked to a new guy in the church choir last week and learned about the L.A. Winds, a community band that plays a very ambitious schedule of subscription concerts – almost one a month. David made a few inquiries and wangled an invitation to join the group. Monday's rehearsal was a bit sparse due to the Yom Kippur holiday, but the conductor is good and there are plenty of fine players, so this should be a challenging reason for him to climb out of his recliner and sweat a little. Jane is delighted at the thought.