A “Typical” Week for A NiceGirl

What is a “typical” week like for a NiceGirl? If it’s anything like my past week it was filled with getting over a nasty head cold brought on by my attendance at San Diego’s Comic Con, catching up on endless hours of shows that I recorded while I was gone, getting tons of articles written for the panels for which I attended at Comic Con and going to three movies in the span of 24 hours.

One of those movies was a quirky independent film called Adam, starring Hugh Dancy (Confessions of a Shopaholic), Rose Bryne (Damages), Frankie Faison (The Wire), Peter Gallagher (The O.C.) and Amy Irving (Alias). Adam is about a young man with Asperger’s syndrome and the rather unconventional relationship he develops with a grade-school teacher (and would-be children’s book author) named Beth who lives in the apartment downstairs.

This presentation was held at the Hollywood Arclight Theatre and featured an appearance by Ms. Bryne and the film’s writer/director Max Mayer. Their appearance included a question and answer session during which the audience learned the film was shot in 25 days and was based on an interview Mr. Mayer heard during a National Public Radio broadcast.

If you get a chance to see Adam, it is not the easiest movie to watch, but it is realistic in its portrayal of the characters, has wonderfully tender moments and even comedic scenes. The ending is bittersweet but well worth the 99-minutes running time.

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A part of my (upcoming) week will be marking the 15th anniversary of the unexpected passing of my father. This may seem like an unusual moment in my life to include in my blog, but my dad was (and still is) the most important person in my life. I owe everything that I am…to him, including my love of television.

You see my dad loved cartoons (especially Tom and Jerry) and he shared the joy of those crazy, madcap creatures with me on a regular basis. In fact, everyone in my family would know that my dad was watching cartoons when the small den in our home would erupt with his raucous and infectious laughter. He just could never get enough of their misadventures.

He also loved watching war movies and westerns, especially anything starring John Wayne. Anytime those movies were on was our special time together. We didn’t have to talk; we’d just share a meal (or a snack depending on the hour) and the movie. Those times were very special to me and I miss them dearly so anytime I find a western or a war movie airing (and have the time to enjoy it), I tune in and remember all those times I shared with my dad.

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Artist’s Spotlight: This month the artist’s spotlight is on Laura Tigu, a diversified artist, who grew up in an artistic Romanian family in Adrian, Michigan. Art is in her blood and drawing is her passion, but she also enjoys doing portraits, cartoons, paintings, graphic design and ceramics.

Bride by Laura Tigu

Her featured piece is entitled Bride – inspired by a picture found in a bridal magazine with added designs of her own creation – is done in graphite on medium tooth drawing paper in the realism style. Laura states, “this particular bride looked so peaceful and beautiful that she inspired me to capture her beauty in a drawing.”

Drawing for Laura is “relaxing, peaceful, and brings me joy. I am a perfectionist which, makes getting certain projects done stressful, but the finished piece of art is always rewarding. With every piece of art I create I go through a journey and grow in my technique.”

If you would like more information about Laura Tigu’s artwork, please contact me at rueben@nicegirlstv.com or visit her Facebook page at estera_vegeta@yahoo.com.