The Oscars are upon us, which means that Awards Season is
finally coming to a close. Yes, "Season". Those of you who don't live
here may be blissfully unaware that for the months of December, January and
February Hollywood morphs into a preening, air-kissing, lacquered-faced monster
that celebrates itself from every angle. Producer's Guild Awards! Cinema Audio
Society Awards! Black Women in Hollywood Awards! Annies! Eddies! Streamies! Now,
I'm not saying these people aren't worthy of recognition for a job well done.
And I certainly hope to be counted among the bronzer-ed, sequined,
swag-bag-carrying elite one day HOWEVER I think it's only fair to lay down our
shrimp forks and look up from our Dior compacts from time to time and
acknowledge that there is a world of people who go above and beyond at their
jobs each day with no gala affairs incentivizing them.
It goes without saying that I am profoundly grateful to groups like our military, police force, fire fighters and teachers. They are the backbone of our great country and have all my respect. But this post is not for them (with one exception; See: Best Firefighter). In this post, I am digging deeper and giving a shout-out to a few Little People who I interact with on a weekly basis and who do their ordinary jobs with extraordinary enthusiasm. They bring joy to my routines and they deserve recognition so here goes:
The 2013 Everyday People Awards (Click here for soundtrack)
Best Dry Cleaner: The adorable Asian woman with the gigantic smile at Regency Cleaners in Echo Park who makes a point of coming out from behind the counter to cup my face and tell me "So pretty!" every time she sees me. They also do a great job with my clothes so, you know, there's that, too.
Best Supermarket: Vons in Silver Lake/ Los Feliz/ Virgil Village (depending on your realtor). It would be easy to give this award to just about any Trader Joes, since they are consistently staffed with all different shapes and sizes of your favorite neighbor, but I wanted to reward an underdog here. This Vons is the happiest supermarket I've ever encountered. It's like, Disney-level happy. It is so happy that I actually find myself consciously shopping less and less at my favorite TJ's just because I feel like this place deserves business for being so freaking happy. From the bagger who trades recipes with me to the stock boy who sings me Elvis songs to the cashier who once taught me how to do a fishtail braid, these people bring "connecting with the customer" to a whole new level.
Best Movie Theatre: The Vintage Los Feliz 3 because it is cheap and always has current movies and it is two doors down from arguably the best happy hour in the area (Figaro!) AND I can bring my own food and drink in, which means I can sip homemade spiked hot chocolate or chow down on an In-N-Out burger while I watch a $6 movie.
Best Cardio Instructor: Jordan at Pop Physique in Silver Lake does not treat me like the winded lard-ass that I am. Instead, he exalts my pitiful performance with exclamations like "You're a beautiful, powerful tree!", which we all know is a lie. I am not powerful in the slightest, in fact from the moment the class begins I feel certain that I'm seconds away from blacking out and cracking my head on the ballet barre but his passion is intoxicating so I keep coming back.
Best Car Repairman: Tony at Silver Lake Collision. I hope not to have this award category in 2014 but let's just say that my car was in three accidents last year and he did such a beautiful job and has such an awesome Italian Grandpa-ness that it's almost (almost) a delight to write that deductible check.
Best Dog Groomer: DeeDee at Moonshine Grooming. Chicken goes into convulsions when you try to cut her nails. Somehow this 5lb dog acquires the strength of three pit bulls when you pull clippers out of your pocket and it is impossible for me to handle her so I pay $15 to make it someone else's problem. Enter DeeDee. It takes about half an hour for her to accomplish what should take under two minutes because Chicken writhes and hyperventilates like there's a serial killer in the room and all the doors and windows are on fire. DeeDee doesn't even break a sweat as she walks the entire property with Chicken cradled in her arms, alternating each clip with nuzzles and kisses and songs. How do you tip an angel? I love her.
Best Gas Station Owner: The Indian guy at the Chevron on the corner of Vineland and Moorpark in North Hollywood. He's like a little Buddha, so soft spoken and cushiony and has the most wonderful smile. Just one conversation with him makes me feel like I've been to church. I actually go to the trouble to pay for my gas inside the store just so I can talk to him- that's how sublime a human being he is.
Best Parking Garage Attendant: To me, parking garages are like the annoying co-worker in the copy room who's holding the printer hostage with some overly complicated copy job while she tells you stories about her kids. I just want to run into Target for some laundry detergent and a birthday card but first I have to endure noise and lines and stupid people pushing carts in the middle of the lane. Parking garages exhaust me so I really appreciate attendants like the guy at the $5 garage on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills who asked me about my night and told me a funny story about going to the spa with his wife and getting a terrible massage that ruined his back. Human interaction! It's so easy and yet so rare.
And, last but not least, Best Firefigher: Adorable, charming Anonymous Firefighter at Fire Station #63 in Venice. I was leaving Abbot Kinney with a just-purchased coffee on the roof of my car and you took time out from saving lives to wave me down and point it out to me. I made a joke and you laughed a perfect laugh that lit up your perfect face. I drove away and have cursed myself every day since for not giving you my phone number. Please call me. It's really easy to find me with some simple internet stalking. You haven't thought of that because you are pure and true and uninitiated in these ways but your feral firehouse buddies will help you. Of course, I expect that you are probably married but until I get confirmation on that I am moving ahead with planning our future together and it is a safe and blissful one filled with smoke detectors and flame-less candles and homemade birthday cakes shaped like hydrants. Seriously, call me.
It goes without saying that I am profoundly grateful to groups like our military, police force, fire fighters and teachers. They are the backbone of our great country and have all my respect. But this post is not for them (with one exception; See: Best Firefighter). In this post, I am digging deeper and giving a shout-out to a few Little People who I interact with on a weekly basis and who do their ordinary jobs with extraordinary enthusiasm. They bring joy to my routines and they deserve recognition so here goes:
The 2013 Everyday People Awards (Click here for soundtrack)
Best Dry Cleaner: The adorable Asian woman with the gigantic smile at Regency Cleaners in Echo Park who makes a point of coming out from behind the counter to cup my face and tell me "So pretty!" every time she sees me. They also do a great job with my clothes so, you know, there's that, too.
Best Supermarket: Vons in Silver Lake/ Los Feliz/ Virgil Village (depending on your realtor). It would be easy to give this award to just about any Trader Joes, since they are consistently staffed with all different shapes and sizes of your favorite neighbor, but I wanted to reward an underdog here. This Vons is the happiest supermarket I've ever encountered. It's like, Disney-level happy. It is so happy that I actually find myself consciously shopping less and less at my favorite TJ's just because I feel like this place deserves business for being so freaking happy. From the bagger who trades recipes with me to the stock boy who sings me Elvis songs to the cashier who once taught me how to do a fishtail braid, these people bring "connecting with the customer" to a whole new level.
Best Movie Theatre: The Vintage Los Feliz 3 because it is cheap and always has current movies and it is two doors down from arguably the best happy hour in the area (Figaro!) AND I can bring my own food and drink in, which means I can sip homemade spiked hot chocolate or chow down on an In-N-Out burger while I watch a $6 movie.
Best Cardio Instructor: Jordan at Pop Physique in Silver Lake does not treat me like the winded lard-ass that I am. Instead, he exalts my pitiful performance with exclamations like "You're a beautiful, powerful tree!", which we all know is a lie. I am not powerful in the slightest, in fact from the moment the class begins I feel certain that I'm seconds away from blacking out and cracking my head on the ballet barre but his passion is intoxicating so I keep coming back.
Best Car Repairman: Tony at Silver Lake Collision. I hope not to have this award category in 2014 but let's just say that my car was in three accidents last year and he did such a beautiful job and has such an awesome Italian Grandpa-ness that it's almost (almost) a delight to write that deductible check.
Best Dog Groomer: DeeDee at Moonshine Grooming. Chicken goes into convulsions when you try to cut her nails. Somehow this 5lb dog acquires the strength of three pit bulls when you pull clippers out of your pocket and it is impossible for me to handle her so I pay $15 to make it someone else's problem. Enter DeeDee. It takes about half an hour for her to accomplish what should take under two minutes because Chicken writhes and hyperventilates like there's a serial killer in the room and all the doors and windows are on fire. DeeDee doesn't even break a sweat as she walks the entire property with Chicken cradled in her arms, alternating each clip with nuzzles and kisses and songs. How do you tip an angel? I love her.
Best Gas Station Owner: The Indian guy at the Chevron on the corner of Vineland and Moorpark in North Hollywood. He's like a little Buddha, so soft spoken and cushiony and has the most wonderful smile. Just one conversation with him makes me feel like I've been to church. I actually go to the trouble to pay for my gas inside the store just so I can talk to him- that's how sublime a human being he is.
Best Parking Garage Attendant: To me, parking garages are like the annoying co-worker in the copy room who's holding the printer hostage with some overly complicated copy job while she tells you stories about her kids. I just want to run into Target for some laundry detergent and a birthday card but first I have to endure noise and lines and stupid people pushing carts in the middle of the lane. Parking garages exhaust me so I really appreciate attendants like the guy at the $5 garage on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills who asked me about my night and told me a funny story about going to the spa with his wife and getting a terrible massage that ruined his back. Human interaction! It's so easy and yet so rare.
And, last but not least, Best Firefigher: Adorable, charming Anonymous Firefighter at Fire Station #63 in Venice. I was leaving Abbot Kinney with a just-purchased coffee on the roof of my car and you took time out from saving lives to wave me down and point it out to me. I made a joke and you laughed a perfect laugh that lit up your perfect face. I drove away and have cursed myself every day since for not giving you my phone number. Please call me. It's really easy to find me with some simple internet stalking. You haven't thought of that because you are pure and true and uninitiated in these ways but your feral firehouse buddies will help you. Of course, I expect that you are probably married but until I get confirmation on that I am moving ahead with planning our future together and it is a safe and blissful one filled with smoke detectors and flame-less candles and homemade birthday cakes shaped like hydrants. Seriously, call me.
And that wraps up the 2013 Everyday People Awards! Feel free to add your own. Who brings joy to your routines?
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