We had a plumber come to fix some leaky faucets and stuff. I’ve always hated watching myself on TV and never watched my own show. But I had to watch the How-To videos from last week and here’s the internal conversation I was having as I watched myself on video…
“Is my butt really that big?”
“Why did I say that? What am I… an amateur?”
“Do I even know what I’m doing?”
“What if I get hate mail for this?”
“What’s with that hair? I don’t recall go to a clown school for hairstyling.”
“I am never watching myself on video again.”

The sun is back! I made pancakes for breakfast and then Denis and I went to Franklin Canyon to see the ducks in the lake and so I could take pictures (here’s a duck taking a nap). On the way home I spotted a rabbit running along the road. I had my camera so here is the best shot I could get before he took off down a hill. I have to admit I was happy that Canada won the hockey game today and won the gold. It’s Canada’s national sport and it was their turf, I mean their ice. Like most Canadians, I grew up ice skating every weekend. I love it but I haven’t skated since I fell on the ice and broke my shoulder – that was about 20 years ago. It’s hard to watch the earthquake pictures from Haiti and Chile and not be anxious about living in California. Most nights when I’m falling asleep, I think “I hope it’s not tonight…”

More videos! We taped four more videos today for a total of eight. It’s almost like work but lots of fun since I was doing it at home. My assistant, Damon, did a great job and was patient when I forgot what I was going to do and my housekeeper, Antonia, acted as wardrobe, production assistant, dishwasher, and reminder when I forgot something. We made a great team and I got pizzas for everyone to say thank you. I hope to get them on the site by next week. My favorites were chocolate pudding from scratch and granola…. oh and How To Make Meringues. Denis snapped this photo of us in action. I can’t wait to do more!

My kitchen was transformed into a studio yesterday so I could videotape some more “How-To” videos for this website. I sure missed my teleprompter. The hardest part was having to remember everything I wanted to say without a prompter or notes. My assistant, Damon, did everything as far as lighting the room, audio and ran the recorder. I put together the props and food. I hope to get them posted this week. Isn’t is just amazing to see what the Olympic athletes are doing? Flying in the air is one thing, but then the acrobatics they do up there is something to behold. They’re famous for their hard work, commitment, never giving up and always giving their best. We should all live up to that. Maybe I shouldn’t gloat about walking 30 minutes a day.

I got my teeth cleaned.

I feel guilty living in California – it was 80 degrees today. I had a meeting with my business managers this afternoon and stopped at Whole Foods on the way home to get some fresh basil for the pizza I made tonight. I finally got it down and can make great pizza. The coyotes are back. I’ve seen two this week already, both just walking down the street. But I can’t complain because some people around town have bears in their back yards. The Olympics have been so exciting, especially since they’re in Canada, my home country. I still can’t get over the whales swimming across the floor in the opening ceremonies. Seeing the Canadian flag was so cool and I found out I still remember the words to “Oh, Canada.” But I still want the U.S. to kick everybody’s butt. Oh my God, I just checked. It’s 8:30 p.m. and we have 14 MEDALS!! Yaaaay!!!

My ankle is not sprained, but it sure felt like it on Thursday. By Friday morning it was like nothing happened. I was afraid to get out of bed and try to walk, but there was no pain and no swelling. Could it be that ice, elevation, and compression are that effective? I truly expected to be on crutches today. But I also believe in the power of the mind and I simply did not have time to be laid up and not getting around. Maybe I willed it away too. They say a positive outlook can help fight even cancer so why not a sprained ankle…? Well bottom line – my dogs are good. I have to be able to exercise because I got chocolates for Valentines Day!

I think I sprained my ankle. I was going along my own front walk made of stepping stones this morning and my right foot slipped off the right edge. I didn’t fall although my foot hurt, but not a lot. I went about my day, had breakfast, planted some lettuce and parsley, worked at my desk and about 6 hours later, my foot started hurting. By evening I couldn’t walk on it and I was in pain, so I looked up what to do. It was the old “RICE” routine: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. I’m doing it but I don’t like it. I had other plans.

Today was our housekeeper’s birthday so we invited her mother over and we all went out to an El Salvadoran restaurant in Silver Lake for lunch. We had papusas and other traditional Salvadoran foods with all of us sampling each other’s plates. After lunch, we drove to Hollywood for cream puffs. They make the best cream puffs in the world at Hollywood & Highland and luckily, I don’t get there often. There was a lot of traffic and streets blocked off in the area because the movie premier of Valentines Day was going on. But we found parking and had a fun time; however, I was a bit lethargic the rest of the day. I suppose I should have only had one cream puff.

I woke up to the sound of helicopters overhead and with more rain coming today, I thought there might have been a mud slide, but that wasn’t it. They were there because Charlie Sheen’s car went over the side on Mulholland Drive and the news and paparazzi were flying overhead to get the story. Apparently, his car was stolen, Charlie was at home, but there was no one in the car. It went down a steep embankment, about 300 yards and I don’t know how anyone could have walked away from it. I need to be somewhere this morning and Mulholland Drive is closed.