Happy New Year!

Happy 2011, everyone! My new year's resolutions this year - Prayer and Posture!

I will keep trying to do my weekly suppers or weekly events. I feel like it would be good to do one or the other, especially until I find my own place.

Besides the two Ps, here are the other resolutions:
1. Sign up for Netflix
2. Beat FF13
3. Make and sell more jewelry
4. Find an apartment in or near North Hollywood
5. Put up my Rochelle Perry Play Showcase
6. Sign up for a marathon - http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/disneyland-half-marathon/
7. Make tamales - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Real-Homemade-Tamales/Detail.aspx

I think these are all attainable goals. :)

Flavor of the Week... On Temporary Hold

If you may have noticed, I've not been keeping up with my Flavor of the Week Supper Clubs. :( I've been going through a lot lately, and that would answer why I haven't been able to continue these weekly endeavors. Sadly, I've recently become boyfriendless, homeless, and (for a whole year now) jobless. I feel like I've hit rock bottom. But on the bright side I guess the only way to go from here is up, right? I feel like a door has closed but a new one is yet to open. I'm trying to stay as confident and positive as I can, and now that I'm staying at my mom's, I'm hoping to recharge my batteries and go out into the world with a purpose full of positive energy! I'll be updating you weekly or as often as I can. Sit tight, and thank you for your prayers and good wishes. I couldn't get through this without so many good friends like you!

:)
All the best,
Rochelle

Happy New Year!!!

I'm not sure if anybody still reads this blog... if you're out there, thanks for keeping up with me. The endurance put forth in keeping this blog current with my life (in 2009) has been arduous for me and I'm sure lackadaisical for you, but I promise it will be more enjoyable for both of us once again in this new decade of 2010.

Sadly I am still unemployed, one of millions who lost their jobs in 2009. Although I am a bit more hopeful with the new year at hand, I will still use this time to figure out what I'm doing here on this planet. So... as I began two new years ago, with the birth and origin of this blog, I present a new event planner in me. I present to you not only a Rochelle Perry that loves to plan parties, but I present the experimental me: the chef in me, the writer in me, the editor in me, the jeweler and designer in me, the manager in me, the creator in me, the quiet part of me, the loud part of me... the everything in between... the me trying to figure out me.

On NPR today, I listened to a woman speaking about the happiness of her life. It sprung from the work that she did. Likewise, if I am not working I am not happy. That's not to say I don't enjoy a few hours of leisure and pleasure every day, but if I were to sit around the house all day doing nothing, I am not fulfilled. If I'm working on jewelry or writing my play, I fill like I've accomplished something that day even though I'm not getting paid for any of it (which Dear God, I hope I get an extension on my unemployment benefits). So this year, again, I am planning one party a month... one party to "experiment" (if you will) on all my friends a possible career course for me. I call it: "Experimental Monthlies!"

So here are possibilities of what's on the menu:
1. Housewarming/Jewelry Craft Faire
2. Super Secret New Restaurant Idea!
3. Screening of my new film
4. Murder Mystery Dinner Party (written by me!)

Speaking of Menu... Having just moved in with Deane, I am still trying to sort the apartment out. My mind feels like the chaos of boxes and unassigned objects, scattered and abandoned. For Christmas I received cookbooks from just about every adult female in my family. I felt the pressure was on. Were they trying to domesticate me, or make sure I wouldn't succumb to starvation? I mean, I've been living on my own since college. In any case, I feel like I need to use these cookbooks. So Deane suggested I take the "Julie and Julia" approach - cook a meal every day. And if you know me, I cook a lot, so cooking every day for just myself and sometimes for Deane too, would be overkill. So we concluded that a new meal a week is more than feasible. And this is an extension to you all. I invite you all over once a week for my "Supper Club," another addition to this site and making it a truly-to-a-foodie "Flavor of the Week." It will take place Saturday or Sunday evenings.

I will keep you posted on both Experimental Monthlies and Weekly Supper Clubs!!!

Ciao for now and may you have a Happy 2010!

Upcoming December! Please read!

Hi All,
Here are the plans for the Weekly Hostess' December Events.

Week 49:
- Dec. 5th: My Quarter Bday! (If you love me, you'll go.) :)

Week 50:
- Dec. 11th: Freeway Series (Come support my theater company and watch a play for $10)

Week 51:
- Dec. 15th: Holiday Baking Party/Cookie Exchange - Put your baking skills to the test Sunday night and bring out your specialty cookies and baked goods for an exchange the next day.

Week 52:
- Dec. 22nd: Undecided - possible holiday or soup kitchen...

NEW YEAR:
Week 1:
- Jan. 3rd: Tea Ceremony - So cool! We will learn how to conduct a Japanese Tea Ceremony. Check it out!
http://www.zenshuji.org/
Click on "Classes" and then "Tea Ceremony" for more info. Then take a look at their calendar. i was thinking of doing Zazen, Shakyo, then Sadobu (tea ceremony) for a full day of Japanese culture.

Upcoming!

Thought to update you on upcoming events from yours truly!

September
Week 37: (w/o 9/7) - Sept 11 - Book Exchange
Week 38: (w/o 9/14) - Sept 20 - Poker Night (at Gabe's)
Week 39: (w/o 9/21) - Sept 27 - Painting Day
Week 40: (w/o 9/28) - Oct. 4 - Typhoon Restaurant
Week 41: (w/o 10/5) - Oct. 5 - Wild West Weekend - http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/WildWestWeekend.htm
Week 42: (w/o 10/12) - Oct. 12 - Oktoberfest - Alpine Village
Week 43: (w/o 10/19) - Oct. 21 - Tarot Card Reading/Astrology/Sage burning
Week 44: (w/o 10/26) - Oct. 30 - Halloween Party


October:
Amy's Bday - Broadway Musicals!!

** Calendar of June Events - Please Provide Feedback!

I thought to give you all a heads-up in one post. These are the tentative dates. Please let me know if a date doesn't work for you and a suggestion of a date that would work. Also... please fill out the survey on the side so I can better plan events with bigger turnouts. I'd like it if everyone who wants to attend can attend. Thanks!

Week 24 - (Tuesday) June 10th - Improv and (Thursday) June 12th - Concert
Week 25 - (Friday) June 20th - Clothing/Junk Swap
Week 26 - (Thursday) June 26th Arts & Crafts Night
Week 27 - Fourth of July BBQ Grill-off!
Week 28 - Open Mic Night and Coffee Tasting
Week 29 - (Open to Suggestion) possibly Wicked or Dr. Faust
Week 30 - (Open to Suggestion) possibly Wicked or Dr. Faust
Week 31 - Skydiving!!!

Let me know which you're interested in attending and whether weeknights or weekends work better.

UPCOMING! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

So I have several things I'm planning that are in the works, and they may take some planning (or at least a headsup) on your end, so I wanted to stick it somewhere on your radar too.

1. Clothing Swap - Clean out those closets and make room for summer! Bring all the clothes you don't care for and we'll swap them out. Your trash is another's treasure! All the leftovers and unwanted clothes will be donated to charity.

2. Open Mic Night - I hope you're preparing what you're going to be sharing! Poetry, music, dance, etc. This is an open night for all creative souls!

3. Craft Day - We will each come up with a craft of our choice and make it to share with a group. If possible, we will get together and donate some of these to local children's hospitals.

4. Iron Chef - The ingredient of choice will be either eggplant or cherimoya. Stay tuned!

5. Volunteering with the Soup Kitchen - Anyone interested???

Mark Your Calendars!

I've planned the next 4 events so you can mark your calendars and buy tickets (if necessary) for upcoming, fun-filled times ahead. Here's a recap:

Week 9: Feb. 29th @ 6:30pm - Griffith Observatory
Week 10: Mar. 8th @ 8:00pm - Kirtan at Yoga Blend
Week 10: (cont)Mar. 9th @ 1:30pm - Free Yoga Class at Yoga Blend
Week 11: Mar. 11th @ 8:00pm - Sweeney Todd at Ahmanson
Week 12: Mar. 22nd @ 10:00am - CityRace

So get on it.... but remember: if you have any questions, please contact me.

Hope to see you there. This should be enough notice for most of you; I'm just hoping you won't forget about these events as the dates get closer.

Some future adventures to digest...

Here is a basic outline of what I am planning in the near future. I have listed them so anyone who wants to go can purchase tickets ahead of time.

Spring:
1. Sweeny Todd - March 11th at the Ahmanson - 7pm
2. Race/LA - http://www.racela.com/about_cr.html
3. Wicked - a weeknight in March/April
4. Road trip to Grand Canyon or Arizona
5. Dancing at the Derby http://www.clubderby.com/
6. Silver Lake and Hippie food
7. Griffith Observatory
8. Dinner and a Movie - Cinespace Hollywood http://www.cinespace.info/movies_template_calendar.html

Summer:
1. Skydiving
2. Japanese Party
3. New York
4. Hollywood Park http://www.hollywoodpark.com/
5. Mountain and River Adventure in the Kern Valley (road trip) http://www.mtnriver.com/climb.htm

Restaurants to try: http://www.latimemachines.com/new_page_7.htm
http://novaexpresscafe.com/main.html
http://www.darkdining.com/
http://www.geocities.com/bahookarestaurant/welcome.htm
http://www.cliftonscafeteria.com/home.html
Moun of Tunis
Ehtiopian

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2812673-los_angeles_things_to_do-i

Please let me know if you're interested in attending... especially the Sweeny Todd show coming up. I have already purchased tickets, but wanted to put it out there so you can purchase your own. We may not be sitting together, but at least we'll be at the same performance and can eat dinner before or after. Any other events you want to make, let me know, and if you have anything you want to do, please let me know as well.

Fun times ahead...