Real Life Doesn't Have a Hiatus

In the entertainment business we have a term hiatus and it is often bantered about when talking about the status of a TV show air or production schedule.  Simply put, it is when a network takes a several week break in the normal schedule of a specific television program. It can occur during a season of a television program, or can be between television seasons.

A typical television production and air schedule has a very specific cycle.  For example spring is pilot season, when a network makes several "pilot" or trial episodes of a new show to see if it can find a larger audience than one on its current schedule or a show that is ending. Some television programs also go on hiatus during the regular season so that their networks can reserve episodes for airing during the crucial ratings or "sweeps" period. Programs that "return from hiatus" in time for the sweeps period to generate high ratings, usually include special content in programming such as stunt casting where they have special big name guest stars, like Ava Aston (kidding) or have the writers write controversial and unexpected plot twists or cliff-hanging season ending finales.  An example of putting new episodes of a series on hiatus to air special episodes during "sweeps" period is  done by one of my favorite shows, South Park which usually airs seven new episodes during the spring sweeps weeks, and seven more new episodes during the fall sweeps weeks. I love the character of Cartman and I keep telling Mr. Bricks I want to be a guest star on South park.

Real life doesn't have a hiatus like the entertainment industry does. When life's muckery hits us we have to deal with it right then and there. We can't put on a rerun until we figure crap out. Here are some examples of behind the scenes muckery that caused television shows to go on hiatus until they figured out what to do next.

•  In August 2009, VH1 placed its reality series, Megan Wants a Millionaire on indefinite hiatus when one of their contestants Ryan Alexander Jenkins was wanted for the questioning in his wife's murder. He was later found dead in a hotel room in Canada.

• The animated kids series, Pokemon was put on hiatus in Japan for 6 months in 1997 after the airing of an episode that caused hundreds of little kids to have seizures.  I just hope that no one has a seizure when they see Mr. Bricks in my cartoon series Ava the Diva.

• The 2007-2008 WGA strike forced several television series to go into hiatus.

• The television series 8 Simple Rules was put on a hiatus because of the death of its main star John Ritter.

• And most recently, the implosion and melt down of Charlie Sheen's noggin caused CBS to put the series Two and a Half Men on hiatus.

It would make life much easier to endure at times if we could indeed put up reruns of our life and just go on hiatus to try and work out our problems. I could put up my cheerleading High School days and have everyone watch the Greek girl getting her cheer on and then I would return to normal programming my normal muckery-filled life when I had everything worked out.  But that is not the way life rolls.

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Why Old People Go To Florida

As I was growing up I always heard stories of cantankerous New Yorkers who would go to Florida for the winter.  I thought that was silly, who doesn't like a good snow storm now and then? My sisters and I secretly thought it was the hot Florida sunshine that turned the older ladies hair blue.

Well, I was such a naive little Greek girl.

After experiencing the winter that we did in New York this year, I hope I never have to go through something like that again. Buuuurrrrr, I get cold just thinking about it. So to treat myself, I decided to spend my Easter vacation in Florida this year. Maybe just to try to see if I can get that punk look with some blue hair action happening on top of my Blonde coconut.

It didn't take long to convert me. After one week, I decided that when I get old (about Mr. Brick's age) and when I am no longer on tour with my music, I'm going to be a snow bird, and fly south for the winter. 

Like in the video, this has been my social agenda for the entire week:

1. Lace on sneakers - go for run on beach.

2. Swing by Dunkin Donuts for iced coffee (yummo)

3. Chill on beach

4. Send Mr. Bricks a postcard saying, "I bet you wished you were here"  (The thought of Mr. Bricks in a speedo...ok, I just threw up a little in my mouth) Next day repeat steps 1 -4

Blessings,

Ava

xox

I Just Ate Deep Fried Pickles

Yummo. Deep Fried Pickles. My new BFF?

Still in Florida and loving it.

The best part about traveling is being out of your comfort zone. It's good to not get too complacent in life. When you are not in your own home night after night you tend to need to improvise to make things "more like home." Choosing what to eat on this vacay, has certainly  put me out of my comfort zone on a few occasions so far.

I normally make my own meals or have my meals prepared for me exactly the way I want to ensure that it is not loaded with unnecessary sodium and/or fats. Whenever I travel for a length of time like this I always have my secret stash, just in case I need a dose of healthiness.  However a Greek girl can't live on Coffee and Zone Bars alone, so I had to venture out of my comfort zone yesterday and try something new. Deep fried pickles.

At first I wasn't going to even try it because, well it was deep-fried. I was thinking, who do they think I am Mr. Bricks? He will eat anything deep-fried, I eat very little fried food. But at the last-minute I decided to throw caution to the wind and try them. And guess what? They were good. Don't get all excited Mr. Bricks you won't find deep fried pickles on my tour bus anytime soon. But in a social setting if they were being served, I wouldn't pass them up. I couldn't eat too many fried pickles as I still have a few more days I need to look good on the beach in a bikini.

Why is it that we take more chances doing things on vacation than when we are safe and sound in our own house and home towns. There are always pictures being posted on Facebook from people saying they just got back from vacation and look what they did, ate or saw. On the beach I also saw a few people who decided to wear things that I am pretty sure they do not wear in Oklahoma City. My Greek eyeballs are still burned with the image of those two older men in speedos ~ yikes!

I suspect that we all do things outside our comfort zone on vacation just for all of the bragging rights. Because look at me, not only did I eat fried pickles on my Florida vacation, I also bragged about it right here on my blog!

Time to put a little more sun screen on the nose....

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Flip Flops in the Sand

Flip Flops in the SandPhotos Courtesy of Wharman Photostream

I successfully made the migration to Florida for my 2 week vacation. Here is my itinerary:

• Plant my little Greek butt on the beach
• Stick toes in sand
• Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather
• Send "Dear John" postcard to Old Man Winter (it's finally over!!!)
• Send "I bet you wished you were here" postcard to Mr. Bricks
• Edit "Gone" music video to be ready for the April 28th premiere
• Go sneaker shopping

It  was such a long cold winter in New York this year and since I have been working so hard recently I really do not feel guilty about just taking some Ava time. But don't get your pantaloons in a wad, I will still be blogging from the beach. Blogging is not like work for me, I consider it Greek translation. As the words just flow from my noggin I put it down on paper... it's kinda magical, as if I didn't write anything at all - just sayin'. Song writing is like that for me as well, it just flows like butter, well actually  like "smart balance " or real olive oil - that's how I roll. My triglycerides are 33, so I think I'm good.

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Hawaii Vacation Portraits: Kailua, Oahu

This family enjoyed a Kailua-style vacation recently. One of the first things Grandma organized when she was planning the vacation was a family portrait session! We enjoyed meeting this lovely family.

Ihilani Resort, Ko'olina: Couple Portraits