KP

Little Parents, Big Pregnancy

2009-06-29T17:14:00.016-04:00

We've had a lot going on here. I developed and executive produced a new show called LITTLE PARENTS, BIG PREGNANCY about the Hennons, a wonderful couple who are dwarfs, having their first child. Got great ratings. Heartwarming and funny. TLC picked it up and aired it and they have ordered another hour. Will keep you posted. It was the highest rated show on Discovery Health's baby week.

We are in the midst of shooting a brand new show about the King family, who are also "little people" and they are about to adopt a dwarf child in Albania. All moving material and inspirational folks. A must see!

Little Parents, Big Pregnancy on Discovery Health

Outtakes- Becky's tatoo

Craig Bowling

2009-04-27T14:36:00.002-04:00

This coming Thursday in NY I'm screening MY NOSE and doing a seminar. Here is the link

to it. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP. And you are not in NY but interested in the event, please let me know and you can include where you are located that would be great.

http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/seminar.htm

This event has come about due to the reaction this short film gets from the audience. I realize I am not alone when it comes to having a critical parent and somewhere, somehow I have managed to learn how to handle the situation and actually turn it around and have loving, joyous relationship with the person who was "in my eyes" my torturer and enemy.

And now I am going to cut and paste an email announcement of the seminar into this box and see if it works.

Save the Date ...

It’s this Thursday
Reserve NOW for this FREE Evening!

Based on the incredible response to my short film MY NOSE (about my mother’s relentless campaign to get me to have a nose job), I realized it’s time to launch the following fun and enlightening seminar.

The Journey of MY NOSE
Learning to accept and love a critical parent

Date: April 30th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: 55 Bethune Street, West Village, NY
Westbeth Artist Community Room

RSVP: info@kirschenbaumproductions.com

MY NOSE speaks to many no matter what your issues are with your parents. The film continues to play worldwide. When I’m at screenings I am surrounded by people telling me how much they relate to my story and sharing their story. Come ready to share yours.

This seminar is not about getting a nose job..

INCLUDES SCREENING OF MY NOSE at 7:30.

I will show you how to:

deal with critical parents
regain self-confidence
reduce anxiety
open yourself to more joy and love

“You don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.” E. Cole

All following seminars there will be a fee. Take advantage of the launch and be part of the birth
and development of a powerful event.

Winter still here

2009-02-25T11:23:00.006-05:00

Yesterday it was windy and icey. Today a bit milder. Haven't done any winter sports as of yet. Miss playing in the snow, going skiing, and enjoying the winter wonderland of the mountains. I did make it up to the Nevele Hotel in January when I was participating in a Limmud conference. Oddly enough, it was a bit of a challenge since it was a record cold weekend and the heat was not working in the hotel. There was much chaos. They lost a tower where they putting up over a 100 people and I was one of them. Many folks left. I have heard great things about these Limmud conferences and it was an unfortunate situation. The Nevele was quite depressing. I had been there in my youth. In fact, there is 8 mm footage of me at the Nevele as an infant. To tell you the truth, I don't think they did any renovation and it's falling apart. I understand it's different owners who probably bought it some years ago hoping that gambling would be coming to the Catskills which it hasn't. The place is decrepit. There is even a website thenevelesucks.com. Too bad. Anyway, I did manage to meet some interesting folks from those that stayed and bundled up. It was freezing inside too. I am a real believer in dressing in layers and had many with me. I'm going to see if I could upload a pix. Later.

On a different note, I went to a friends wedding who is an orthodox Jew. First time for me. I snuck in a picture. Check it out. It was very interesting experience. I was only there for the ceremony not the dinner and dancing afterwards. Too bad. It was extremely interesting.

New Year

2009-01-04T12:16:00.002-05:00

Already 2009. Since I last wrote I've taken a few trips. One to Europe and Asia with Mom shooting MY NOSE: THE BIGGER VERSION. We were in Venice when it started snowing and then changed to rain. The streets flooded and they put out walkways. It was quite an experience but nothing like three days after we left. The entire city was under water. Did you see the pictures? In some cases, the water was up to people's waist. Water in buildings, homes. We would have been trapped. We had an opportunity to connect with several interesting people on our journey that I had pre-arranged. In Venice I was interested to learn about the Jewish population there and the history of the Jews. Met Riccardo Calimani, an well known and prolific author. One if his books is about the Venice Ghetto which was the first Jewish ghetto. We visited the synagogues, met with the president of the community and the chief Rabbi. There are only around 460 Jews in Venice. For that matter, the number of Venetians is rapidly declining. Many are leaving since it is becoming more difficult there to make a living. I hadn't been to Venice since I was fifteen, when I went to study. That was a few years ago. I was amazed to see how many Chinese were living there and doing business. In fact, they are manufacturing imitation Murano glass items and leather goods and selling it for much less than the Italian made goods. It is wiping out the local Italian made products due to pricing. An Italian businessman who owned a leather goods shop on the Rialto Bridge was so upset. His family goes back generations making high quality leather bags. When mom questioned him about his higher prices, he was offended. He looked at me and told me the story and asked that I boycott the Chinese merchants. You know, my heart went out to him. When we went to eat in a restaurant there was no Italian in site working there. All I could see were Chinese and Bangladesh. I am all about diversity and growing and living in NY, there can't be a place in the world anymore divers than here. However, I was saddened and missed the Venice I knew of the past. The culture I enjoyed visiting and experiencing.

Mom's Birthday

2008-10-23T09:42:00.005-04:00

I asked mom if it was okay to share the film I made for her birthday. She said,
"Sure". It probably won't be all that much to those who don't know me and her.
Here's the link. It's around 16 minutes. There are a couple of moments when you think
I'm ending the film but I really don't. So to be safe, keep it going until there ain't no more.
http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/Mom.mp4

Also, a reminder, I am reading some material from the beginning of a show I'm working on
November 3rd, Monday at the Telephone Bar and Grill. There are four writers and it last one hour
all together from 8:00- 9:00 PM at 149 Second Avenue, NY (between 9th and 10th Street).

Have a great day!!!

My Nose + Reading

2008-10-21T13:44:00.005-04:00

In addition to working.. I did some great bike trips. One was out to the Rockaways - Breezy Point. I'm including a pix. My camera of choice for the last few years has been my cell phone - the Treo - yes, I will upgrade soon but I'm really enjoying the immediacy of these images.

Now for other news - MY NOSE has a long life with no bumps like my real nose has. It continues to be found and plays festivals all over the world. It will be playing this Sunday, October 26th at the Jewish Women's Film Festival in NY at the Goldman-Sonnenfelt Family Auditorium at the Jewish Community Center, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 74th Street in Manhattan. the National Council of Jewish Women (NY) is the organizer. http://www.ncjwny.org/film_festival.htm

Now if you are in Israel you could see MY NOSE at the Jewish Eye - World Jewish Film Festival in Ashkelon, Israel-
It plays October 22nd and October 27th/

click this link for all screening details http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/screenings.htm

About MY NOSE:
A single woman, her mother and her nose creates a dangerous love triangle.
Looking one's best has its place. But what do you do when you think you look good and your mother is convinced what you need more than anything else is a nose job? MY NOSE is a funny, personal documentary that will explore my mother's preoccupation with my nose, the intricacies of the mother/daughter relationship and what drives people into the plastic surgeon’s office.

“Dazzling self-confidence” Washington Post
“A big little movie” Thrive
“Hilarious romp” Jewish Week

You can view a trailer and learn more at
or www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/mynose

By the way, my mother cannot understand why My Nose is considered a Jewish film and I have to admit I was also shocked. When I made it and perhaps you don't know that this was really cut as a promo in efforts to raise money and attract a broadcaster to make it longer, a more in depth film- it was selected for the IFP market in NY - a film market. It was then that Annette Insdorf, a great woman, a film critic and academic who I sent it to in hopes of connecting with an angel and instead she responded asking if she could start recommending it to film festivals as is. I said it was a just a promo and she pointed out that it's a great stand alone short. So I smacked on credits, replaced the music with original music I had the rights to and sent it out. The rest is history. The film has been playing all over the world in regular festivals - and many Jewish film festivals which I quite honestly never knew a thing about and never knew there were so many. You know considering Jews, which I am one of, are a minority in the world, I'm amazed at how many film festivals there are. I guess we just love to create.

What makes my film a Jewish film? Me, my nose, my mom??? I do know when MY NOSE was programmed at a event with violent, narrative films with primarily black casts - I was so concerned that my film shouldn't be there and the audience which was primarily black would hate my film. That's not what happened. I was surrounded by people coming over to me telling me how much they enjoyed. So I guess the issues I touch on in MY NOSE transcend the Jewish world. I was relieved to know that. Everyone has a nose and a mother, right?

One more thing, I am working on a live show. Yup.. I'm just in the writing phase and the very beginning. It's time for me come forward in front of a live audience. Apparently, I have enough chutzpah to be honest about all the stuff I've been through and spill the beans, and hopefully done with humor. I will incorporate film - yes, I have lots of archival footage since my folks bought the 8 mm camera when I was born. I just made a film for my mom's bday. it's a biggie but I can't tell you how old. She tells all my friends and family but does not tell her friends that she hangs out with in Boca. I am sworn to secrecy just in case someone reads this blog and it gets back to her. Let's just say she looks great for her age and is quite swift in her mind, too. Where was I? Oh, if only I had my mom's memory and eyesight for that matter. I need glasses - progressive and serious reading glasses. Mom does not. I ask her to read things for me. What's wrong with that picture?

Okay, so if you are around in NY on November 3rd at 8 PM, I will be reading at the Telephone Bar & Grill, 149 Second Avenue between 9th and 10th Avenue. It's over at 9 PM.

That's it for now. Write- I would love to hear from you and if you want to get my newsletter email me. I write just a few a year. And friend me on Facebook.
Have a great day, week, month. Until next time.

Oh, Chelsea is doing great. Sorry not to mention her. I will add a pix. Just a minute. Let me find it on my computer.

Melting Pot

2008-10-21T12:22:00.008-04:00

When I came back from Israel I sunk myself into developing and shooting a new project called MELTING POT. We shot two shows so far - a wonderful Haitian family where Yanick who is the mom and cook brings us into her world and kitchen and then we shot Rabbi Raskin and his beautiful wife Shternie who does the same. The Raskins are Lubavitch and I have seen them numerous times since we shot this summer.. been invited over for Shabbat meals and holidays such as Sukkot, and tonight I'm heading over for Simchat Torah. Let's just say the Raskins and Yanick have now become friends. That's what the show is about.. I enter people's home of various cultural backgrounds - homes you would normally not be invited into unless you were part of the family, community or a friend. I learn how to cook a traditional meal and stay for dinner and learn family secrets and traditions.
Here's what people are saying about MELTING POT:

“I would watch "Melting Pot" in a minute. You nailed it. It's exactly the kind of show that we need to promote world community. Even though I HATE cholent. What is so wonderful about it is the non-slickness of your encounters and your being menschy (femenschy??) with the people. This is so good.”

We are all excited about it. We are looking for the outlet to broadcast on. I want to introduce you to them visually.

The picture of Rabbi Raskin holding something up with his fork - is him eating cholent - a bone which he takes out the bone marrow and says to the camera, "People kill for this." Yum, have you ever eating this. By the way, Rabbi Aaron Raskin founded the Chabad center in Brooklyn Heights and his wife founded Kiddie Korner a school for kids. They are both amazing people. The shot of the Rabbi, Shternie and me is when we are looking into the crockpot for the meat in the cholent. By the way, cholent is the dish orthodox prepare for the Shabbat. They prepare it in advance since you can not cook during Shabbat and it stays warm on either a low flame which is not touched at all during the Sabbath or in a crockpot. No lights, no fire, no TV, no work, no money exchange during Shabbat. It's a day of rest.

Yanick is the gorgeous Haitian woman. Look at her smile. Yanick is a great cook and baker and she has a catering business. This woman never sleeps. We cooked down in the basement where she built a second kitchen - pretty smart - why make the one upstairs dirty. I learned how to make beef oxtails with eggplant and black rice. The rice is black from mushrooms. Her grown kids, siblings and grandchildren all showed up for dinner. Boy, I learned a lot about their culture and family dynamics. They explained to me how important education was and that the parents work hard to make sure their kids have higher education. Yanick's kids all do. Much love in Yanick's and the Raskin's family.

I love this show and not because I created it but because I love meeting people from different worlds and getting to know them well. We are living in a diverse world. Ignorance breeds prejudice. You might work in the office with people from different ethnic backgrounds.. but unless you are invited back home, you don't really know about their traditions. It's time to go behind close doors and learn about each other. We are all essentially the same - we all have the same basic needs and we all want to be loved.

I always say that if everyone got a good hug each day, there would be less crime. Boy, am I on a rant here. This show is filled with love and humor - and entertaining and educational at the same time.

If this sparks your interest, please comment. I will be looking other stories - Would love go to an Amish family, a Native American reservation and so on. And we are looking for business partners/investors to take this to the next level. Sponsors... etc. Please let me know.

You can view the trailer at http://www.kirschenbaumproductions.com/MP/FINALPROMOVO.mp4

Much is going on in my life now - and thank God my creative juices are flowing. More in the next entry.

Photos of Israel

2008-07-07T12:12:00.003-04:00

My skill of inserting photos in the place you want them with a nice caption to go along side of it, is a bit limited.
On that note, here are four pictures from Israel. You will see one of mom and me who are in the tunnel by the Western Wall, mom having breakfast with our friend Isaac Danker (check out how healthy the food is. Lots of fresh vegetables.) Yes, for those who are Israeli, Isaac is the grandfather of Ron Danker who at 23 years old has become Israel's heart throbe: singer and actor, quite talented and gorgeous, then there is a pix of the Gaza Strip behind the wall, a view of the Western Wall from above as a few Orthodox Jews look out.

Israel 2008

2008-05-20T13:55:00.003-04:00

Days, weeks, months have passed since you have heard from me. Much happening. Most recently, back from a trip to Israel.

Israel, I must talk about Israel. What a joy! And what changes! It had been 14 years since I had been there and yes, lots more development, more high-rises, more shopping malls, restaurants, boutiques but the real difference is the people. I’m not referring to all the Ethiopians who are now living there which you see scattered around, many doing security jobs. beautiful dark skinned people speaking Hebrew and laughing with their fellow light skinned comrades. I’m talking about the attitude of the people. It’s simple to explain. No more hearing the word Mapeton – now it’s Avanti – Mapeton! Defined in English – “What are you talking about” or “No way!” Avanti defined in English- “I understand” Yes, Israelis have become better listeners, less hard, more soft, more cosmopolitan. Is this the result of globalization? That is what Aliza Olmert says the Prime Minister of Israel’s wife when we were having coffee in her residence.

Now when a young soldier finishes his army he /she travels for a year. Generally it’s South America or India since both places are inexpensive and then they buckle down and head off to university. Could this year of travel have something to do with the changes? Perhaps, but I also see the changes in the older folks, my generation – more refined, cultured, less out to prove they are always right. Or are these perceptions just mine and slanted because I’m older now and see things differently?
Hmm? I don’t know. I do know that I felt very much at home there. The people were warm, gracious, generous, embracing and looked great. No obese people you see roaming around in America. Meals are healthy. Breakfast consists of chopped vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes- diced up and sprinkled with lemon juice, oil, and salt – olives and pickles next to it, some slices of white cheese, eggs cooked to your liking, bread, frequently whole grain. No fry potatoes, corn beef hash, or pancakes.

We volunteered in the army. We being mom and I. There is a volunteer program called Sar-el, which I highly recommend if you want to do something to help – It’s more like being a good will ambassador. Yes, there are many manual tasks that you are assigned to from painting walls, sidewalks, cleaning floors, pots and pans, separating ammunitions casings to use for scrap metal and so on. You sleep in army barracks, eat with the soldiers (breakfast and dinner are identical and the same every day – healthy but that does get old after a while – fresh sliced orange peppers, diced vegetable salad, cabbage salad, olives and pickles, hard boiled eggs, bread and if you are there at Passover as we were you get Matzoh. Lunch is the big meal and that’s where you could enjoy some other form of protein, like chicken or fish and a carbohydrate like rice or pasta.

We took a solidarity trip to Sderot, a small Israeli city outside the Gaza Strip which is often hit by missiles. The economy is depressed there and they organize bus loads of people to go there to visit and shop, to help boost the economy. We ate at a little Moroccan stand. The woman who owned the small restaurant has been living there for years. She talked about the time her house was hit by a missile when her children were in it. They luckily survived. Her home was destroyed. She explained they live in constant fear. It’s a sad story. All around it’s sad. I left Israel wondering what it would take to make peace. There are children being born into this world who only know of war, violence and hardship. Many are being raised to be martyrs.

My girlfriend Carmela is an architect. Quite talented. Her home is gorgeous. What’s funny is to see her car. Brand new, not cleaned with dents. Too busy to clean the car she says, and the dents don’t really matter. People park there cars on sidewalks, stairs, opposite directions, almost upside down is okay, too. Driving.. Hmm? Well, I didn’t drive there but was a passenger and found myself often yelping when I felt we were too near collision. Actually we had one collision. Wasn’t too bad, Car hit us from behind. Nothing more than bumper damage.

Everyone kept saying the country is bilingual – English and Hebrew. They are right. Many people do speak English and it’s not uncommon in the big cities to find menus in English. And yes on the main roads, the signs with the destinations are often in Hebrew, Arabic and English. However, most other street signs such as parking signs, exit signs in parking lots are only in Hebrew. There was no way I could make out what those Hebrew letters meant. If I had rented a car I probably would have received several parking tickets and maybe have even had my car towed.

If you are a human move to Israel. You will be loved and nourished. If you are car don’t move to Israel. You will rarely be cleaned and often bruised from small accidents. All cars move to Los Angeles where you will be cleaned, shined and buffed. Humans stay away from LA.

Those are my thoughts and I’d love to hear yours. By the way, Chelsea stayed home with her friends and had a great time I’m told.
Love to you all. Gayle

Urban kvetch- dog fashion

2008-01-12T13:04:00.000-05:00

Dressing your dog. Okay, you know when you buy clothing for yourself, you want to make sure you have the right style for your body, the right color for your skin, the right fabric, that feels good on you? What about your dog? Shouldn't you use those same skills and considerations when dressing your loved 4 legged companion. What color hair/fur does your dog have? Is one full color? More than one? What's the pattern of color? I'll use Chelsea for example. She is black and white. That means earth tones are a no no. forget about green, brown. She looks best in black, red, white, yellow (combined with dark colors). Contrast is needed. Now for style. She has a cute figure and is low to the ground. Don't want to put something on her that has long front legs that she will trip on. She has floppy ears which I keep short. She looks great in turtlenecks. Pretty sexy on her. Her black shearling coat is a head turner and she loves this coat. The soft fur about her body feels so smooth and warm. Her red Japanese, tightly fitting kimono is an elegant outfit for a special evening event. Like her HBO premiere party. Also, don't ignore the collar and leash. They should be coordinated in addition to functional.
I know you all must think I have lost my marbles but I've been noticing walking on the trendy streets of the NYC how poorly dressed and coordinated so many dogs are who are attached to well groomed humans. Let's just say, in my house Chelsea is better dressed than I am. I do not even have a Shearling coat. Hell, she deserves it.
Have a great day! xoxoGayel

Juno

2007-11-29T22:55:00.001-05:00

Just saw Juno and it rocks. Diablo Cody spoke afterwards. She is one hot, smart, young and I mean young talented lady. It's a must see.

Thanksgiving.. all I can say is I'm thankful it passed. Took a cruise. No, it's not my kind of vacation but it is the vacation of choice for the rest of the Kirschenbaum clan. Mom said, "Do if for me." Now that Dad is dead, I felt this was one battle not worth fighting especially when she told me we would have a balcony and I could disappear and write. Sounds okay, even if you hate being trapped on a giant moving Las Vegas style hotel. There is always a place to escape to be alone and take your computer and get some work done. Wrong. The outlets were all European, no adaptor on the ship and they informed that even if I had an adaptor passengers were not allowed to use the electricity in the public rooms explaining it was an electrcial issue and only for the vacuum cleaners. Go figure. Oddly enough, we had a fire on the ship. This is not an every day occurrence. First for me and most of the crew and passengers. I did remind my fellow sailors how the Titanic was one of my favorite movies. The fire broke out in the laundry room at three in the morning and code, announcing... Code Bravo, 1, laundry was repeated over and over the PA system in everyone's room. It was hard to believe how many people slept thru this even in my group. I ran out to check what was going on and even after being fed the party line, "All is okay, please go back to your cabin, mam" I found a guy with a walkie-talkie in a red t-shirt, part of the crew who spilled the beans. There was a fire in the laundry room and they were working on containing it. More and more passengers came out of their rooms, most woken up and some carrying bags with their documents and some with their life jackets ready to get on the lifeboat. Eventually, an announcement was made in several languages explaining what was going on. What concerned me was the use of the word, containing, not put out, but they were containing the fire. That was just the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended.

Coincidentally , this was the same day a ship in the north did hit an iceberg and all had to abandon the ship. What followed next was the surprise engagement of my niece to her lovely boyfriend. They have "issues" and I know until those are worked out they won't be walking down the aisle. Sure hope they manage. And last but not least, the step mother, latest wife of my brother decided to lash out at me. Mind you her son had been acting up the entire cruise, temper tantrums... When she was done cursing, she finished it off with, "I'm not done with you." I can't write this stuff. The end of the evening we kissed and made up. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I want to thank my family for all the material they have given me. Love to you all!!

Florida

2007-07-29T10:23:00.000-04:00

Today is the funeral for my Uncle Sonny, my mother's brother. He got melanoma and it spread all over. It took less than two months for him to pass. I have been on the phone with him, working to arrange his care. He resisted hospice and finally agreed to go last Tuesday. I think he had no idea what hospice care is like, particularly down here in Boca Raton. It's like a beautiful resort. He probably thought it was going to be like a depressing nursing home. I spoke to him on Tuesday and he seemed to be relaxed, knowing he was no longer at home alone barely able to walk and having accidents. He was surprised by how beautiful the hospice center was. He said he would wait for me for come down on Friday but he couldn't wait. He passed away the day before I arrive. Sonny and his wife Ruth (she died 2 years ago), never had children. They tried and she had a few miscarriages. We, my brothers and I, were like their chldren. Throughout the years, Sonny was my family confident. When I had problems with my family he was the person I could speak to and share my struggles with and he always was a good ear and understood me. He was knowledgeable about everything and in the last years we enjoyed bashing Bush together. I will miss him and my mother more so. My mother and Sonny became close friends in the recent year after they both became widowed. I worry about her; she is now totally alone family wise ...only one left of her generation. I told her this is the first time in her life that she doesn't have to answer to anyone (like my father) and she doesn't have to take care of anyone (like my uncle). This is the time that my mom and I get closer. I need to keep her young (she is in her 80s) and travel, do things she couldn't before. Okay, all, need to prepare to go. We will be celebrating Uncle Sonny's life later.
Chelsea is here, too. She is spending lots of time sleeping. Love to you all.

June already

2007-06-19T12:15:00.000-04:00

Hi all... I hope your summer is going well. Chelsea has taken a three week holiday without me. She is up in New Hampshire with her friends. Out in the country, lots of grass to run around on and bear to spy on. She left me behind to hold the fort and keep business moving along. I have to admit I wish I was up there. Ready for some nature. The shot below is taken right near where we live. Lucky to be across from the river. Keep July 25th open if you are in NYC and want to see MY NOSE film. Check out screenings for the exact info. Have a great day!!

Sunset on Hudson River

2007-06-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

Taking in Florida

2007-04-20T14:56:00.001-04:00

while I was driving using my Treo (Palm) phone.

2007-04-20T14:54:00.000-04:00

Life on this sunny day

2007-04-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

It's been pretty crappy weather in NY. First nice warm, sunny day in a while. Chelsea is hanging out with her cat brother and her aunts. Lori, Chelsea's Godmother, arrived to town yesterday. We are all busy working away. Love. Decided to focus attention to this area of my life. I know you are thinking that I've been doing this and I certainly write and speak about in my films. I turned up the volume and became proactive, not waiting for Mr. Right to find me. There's been a flurry of activity.. fun times, good conversation, shared meals and experiences. And then, someone appeared. Yup, pretty exciting. Will not give details because anything could jinx it. Let's just say, so far, so good. Whatever happens happens. All I say is, if I never have another blind date in my life, I'd be really fine with that. It's time to build a life with someone. To think and care and cook for another. To laugh and cry, work and play together. You know what they say, behind every good man/woman is a woman/man. It's not like I don't enjoy my alone time, my creating time, my thinking and being time but how wonderful to know someone is there for you and vice versa. I'm so ripe for a juicy, loving, supportive, long lasting relationship. I just want to focus on one significant other. On that subject, I noticed something so common place among the men I dated through the internet. Their constant search. When ever I would go back to the online site, their they were online, too. Never enough, always looking over the shoulder of the person in front them. I'm off the internet now and really do hope I don't return. it's a great way to meet someone particularly in this day and age when we are all so busy and the chances of our paths crossing are not great. It affords us an opportunity to meet people we normally would never meet. Oh, I heard something funny. One date, in an effort to learn about my sleeping habits with a man asked me if I was a clinger or slept independent. At first, I didn't know what he meant. Then he said, full disclosure, I am independent. I asked what he meant and he explained he slept without touching. Can't be touched or vice versa. Well, I just learned some new lingo and styles. Voila, back to work! Love to you all and please write.

Review of MY NOSE

2007-04-20T14:22:00.001-04:00

Months have passed. Okay, what's going on? MY NOSE started playing in film festivals. Remember to check http://www.myspace.com/gaylekirschenbaum.
Here's the first review it received.
THRIVE Magazine by Nancy Weber
Loyalty to our peers be damned. No way not to root for the pup in My Nose, Gayle Kirschebaum’s tragicomic short documentary about the knife-work her mother thinks will save Gayle’s life.
“I knew my biological clock was ticking. I didn’t know my nose was ticking,” says the lovely, funny, talented, single Gayle, as her mother drags her to plastic surgeons in New York and Florida. One doc, a Kabbalist, keeps staring over her head; when Gayle asks why he isn’t looking at her face, he says he’s focusing on a vision of the man who will marry her, post-op.
Mr. Husband is right there, the surgeon assures her, just waiting for her to be sculpted into an object worthy of romantic love.
Maybe it’s her mother, not her nose, who’s scaring away the fellows? I feel guilty as I write those words; I know the mistakes we mothers make in the name of love. Mrs. K., between face-lifts during the period the film was shot, believes she has benefited from cosmetic surgery, and maybe she has. If it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gosling, right?
Wrong, which is why this is a big little movie. A romp but an important romp.
As the closing credits roll, Gayle dedicates My Nose to her father, who has recently died. He lived long enough to see the film, though, and proudly extolled Gayle’s talent. He is the parent we all mean to be, the one with right-on values who encourages the child to create, and the hell with surfaces. Kirschenbaum makes clear how she hungered for such affirmation from her mother."
I suspect many viewers will share my hope that Gayle sees her mother’s participation in the film as a reflection of respect and love, an act of amends-making. Mrs. K. has to have known she was cast as the villain — this woman who dressed her infant daughter like a dolly and now would subject her to the dangers of nontrivial surgery. You want to shake her by the shoulders: How dare she reinvent her daughter’s face — she who doesn’t see her daughter? And yet there she is on the screen, energetically offering herself up as an object of scorn.

As we go to press, My Nose is starting to play festivals. You can track its progress by checking out Kirschenbaum’s Website, ww.kirschenbaumproductions.com. My Nose is distinguished by its heart, antic energy, laugh-aloud moments, willingness to discomfort, and visual integrity. It’s more than worth the detour.
After you see it, reread The Nose, by Gogol. Please. It’s been too long. Since you read Gogol, I mean.

My Space + photographs

2007-01-31T07:52:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
A few new things to report. Firstly, I did a reading of some essays and stories I've written. Went over well and was asked if the stories are available on the web. I think I will post some of them on the site.

But I did just upload a bunch of photographs I have taken using my Treo phone. I'm fairly excited about these pix. My education and background was in art and photography and I lost all interest in creating still images until now. This phone allows me to shoot when no one knows I am shooting, allows me to capture special moments in time, moments in life. Please take a look at these pix and tell me what you think. Click on Photography at www.kirschenbaumproductions.com.

Also, I just put up a myspace.com/gaylekirschenbaum.
Okay, Chelsea is doing great. She is sleeping now but otherwise, enjoying herself. We just went to Cabrini Hospice and made our rounds. It is such rewarding work. Chelsea lights up the patients and their visitors.
Have a great day and please write!
Love, Gayle Licks, Chelsea

Theresa and Gayle

2007-01-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

I just had to post this picture of me and my good friend, Theresa King, who is a fabulous photographer. Okay, there will be many more good times happening here, bringing great minds and people together.
Love you all,
Gayle and Chelsea

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T19:02:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
We just moved into a great space. A loft with huge ceilings. We had a party and it was great getting several friends and family members together. Mom has come to NY to visit with my nephew.I wish you the best in 2007!

Scarsdale

2006-10-06T12:34:00.000-04:00

Come to Scarsdale Library October 25th, Wednesday 7:30 PM to see our films. Chelsea will be joining me. Get to meet the Diva Dog. www.dogamentary.com/Premieres.html

What else is going on? Moving. Yes, quickly, moving not from New York but from one apartment to another. Lots of work and must happen quickly. It's a good thing but our home is so important to us and it's hard to focus on work in the midst of pulling this off. Construction, boxes, designing, organizing. ADD, attention deficit disorder. Not diagnosed with this but am convinced I am border line. I find my mind constantly switching thought directions. Just like now. I hate when I interrupt myself. And I know how you feel when I interrupt you. My excuse - if I don't say it now I will forget it. Poor excuse.

Love, you all want to know about love, don't you. And I have been surprised to learn that more people are reading this than I thought, people in my life now or before. It is a great way to keep up with someone. Well, I'm going to love a secret for now. Let your minds wander. Has she found the guy? Is she finally in love and settling down? is that why her skin looks so good? I can't believe her age. What's her secret? All good questions. Skin, well recently I was turned on to La Mer. Ladies, are you familiar with their products? It seems to be doing miracle work on me and my mom. Our faces look younger than ever, it's our bodies which are aging. Aging, now that's a good topic. how long are our bodies made to last? I suppose if you look at our body as a car, if you maintain it regularly, bring it in for a tune up on schedule, change and clean the fluids regularly, treat it with love, don't brake too hard, your car wil last longer and that applies to everything, even ourselves. I tend to avoid eating and drinking anything that will make me feel bad. Now, I know others who just jump right in, eat the food they know they are allergic to, drink the booze they know will make them sick, and then suffer stomach pains, nausea and gas. Explain this me? Why? Okay, I am no saint, if that's what you are thinking, I just don't like to be sick so why instigate it. Rambling, that's what I'm doing. Sitting in a cafe with a ton of work I need to do. My film MY NOSE ( a work-in-progress) played at the IFP film market and I have much follow up to do... need to quiet the mind and sink into it. Been in the contracting mindset for the new loft, need to ease out of that state and into a creative writing state. yoga. Want to get to a class today. Chelsea is home sleeping. She seems to be enjoying her sleep more these days. In fact, I wake up early and sneak out to go for a run and to the gym and leave her up in the loft. She doesn't seem to mind. Before if I slipped out of bed and didn't take her down with me, she would be crying non-stop so demanding of my time. I wonder how she wil take to this move. Just distracted again by a call. Phone shut off now. And my time to say good-bye to you. Remember I love you all and wish you happy and abundant times.

Reunion

2006-10-06T11:44:00.000-04:00

Everytime I go to make an entry I realize how much time has passed and just don't know where to start. Okay, so what's the latest news? A Dog's Life is playing up in Scarsdale at the library October 25th library. Check www.dogamentary.com screenings for details. Chelsea and I will be attending . We will also be screening MY NOSE work-in-progress. MY NOSE just screened at the IFP market in NY and got a great response. For more info go to www.kirschenbaumproductions.com. We are looking for an Executive Producer.
Life in New York is pretty hectic. Last month I had a huge family reunion in Montreal. I will include a picture. It appears to be of the women. Cousins saw each other for the first time in 40 years. It was so heartwarming. What happened was when I moved back to NY I decided to find my Canadian family. I did and visited them last Xmas. I write about it on the blog. They were so inspired that they decided to host a family reunion. All I can say is there is nothing better than reconnecting with family that you really like. They have become incredibly successful, worked really hard to get there and cant' be more generous and down to earth.
I haven't actually really figured out how to upload a picture and put in the place you want it but I'm grateful I can at least upload it. I will say good-bye for now but promise to be back soon. Take care! Gayle

sailing

2006-08-05T21:02:00.000-04:00

I just spent all day on the water sailing. I've decided to finally take a class in sailing and learn what to do instead of sitting on friend's sail boats and just looking pretty or doing what they ask me to, but not really knowing why. It's been an incredible hot couple of weeks. I'm a bit fried from the sun although I have been using sunscreen. Chelsea has not joined me yet. She has stayed home in the air conditioning. She did receive an invite on my friend's 30 foot boat. So the question is do I need a life jacket for her. He tells me there has never been a problem and he has been sailing for 30 years and is an expert. Perhaps she will join me on a night sail.

I never posted this and it's already October. OMG!

Europe/Avignon

2006-07-14T16:43:00.000-04:00

Chelsea stayed home and I took mom with me to Europe. A DOG'S LIFE was premiering in France at the Avignon Film Festival. We stopped in Berlin for a couple of nights. Mom had never been there before. We ended up being there the night the Germans beat Ecuador. They went wild. One happy drunk German even wrapped mom in a German flag. I could see the headline now, "Elderly Jew wrapped in German Flag". It was the first time in a long time that the Germans could be so proud to hang their flag. Festivities everywhere. Coincidentally, we ended up in Paris the night the French beat Brazil and you can imagine how thrilled they were. No, this wasn't a soccer trip we were taking. I'm completely distracted by the Middle East crisis. How could any of this make matters better? Doesn't it only ignite hatred? I have many friends and family in Israel. Even the Prime Minister is an old friend but I'm sitting here so concerned about this aggression. You can't control rage. More and more suicide bombers are being created each day. Can you imagine suicide bombers here? The effect that could have on us. Okay, I started writing this a few days ago and was eager to share with you what an incredible trip I had in Europe and to upload pictures. I have to leave to head to my sailing classes and then Chelsea and I are off to a B&B my friend bought in the country. A gorgeous old Victorian home.
Okay, I will upload some pix. You will mom and me enjoying dinner in Paris, a rendezvous with my old dear friend, Francois Hebel who is the head of the Festival of Arles (photography festival) and another friend. A group of filmmakers from the Avignon Film Festival.

NBC Today Show Friday

2006-06-07T08:59:00.000-04:00

I unexpectedly received a call the day before last that the Today show wanted to come and tape Chelsea and me. They are producing a segment on human/canine bond and the changes which are happening in today's world and workplace. They interviewed the founder of Anthropologie where you can take your dog to work. So, the crew came over and shot us for a few hours of which perhaps thirty seconds or a minute will appear on TV. It's scheduled for Friday morning around 8:00 AM.

This Sunday Chelsea and I headed to Philadelphia for the White Dog Cafe screening. You can learn more at their site www.whitedog.com. We will spend the night there and Chelsea will be personally signing DVDs.

Also, we are in construction on a new site for KirschenbaumProductions.com. Where you will eventually learn about what've done and what we are doing. Our new film is called MY NOSE. Quite funny. Here are some comments just from the trailer.

Here are some early raves for the trailer:

"Very funny!" Josh Sapan, CEO, Rainbow Media Holdings (founder of IFC, WE, Bravo, Fuse TV)

"What a riot!" Debbie Hauesler, Agent

"I love it. It's great!" Albert Maysles, legendary filmmaker (Gimme Shelter)

"Playful and poignant" Channel 4, UK

"Quite funny" Bravo TV

"Your teaser is charming." Sundance Channel

Indeed, the AP writer who reviewed my last film fell in love with the trailer and used his power and connections to plug the film with a broadcaster. He wrote, "The edited footage that I saw, along with Gayle's larger plans – to touch on issues of vanity, ethnic identification, nose-aesthetics – got me pretty pumped up. I offered to do something I've never done before — intercede with a plug. I'm not really doing this for Gayle, as much as for myself: The film she seems to have in mind is something I'd really like to see."

We are raising funds to finish it.
How to donate:

All donations $200 and above are tax-deductible and in addition you get your name chiseled in the credits (if you like) and depending on your contribution you can even get an impressive credit like "Associate Producer" or even "Producer".

DCTV (Downtown Community Television) is a non-profit film organization which services the independent film community. They are our 501 3 c fiscal sponsor. Checks $200 and more are made out to DCTV (Downtown Community Television) with "My Nose" written on the bottom and mail to Kirschenbaum Productions, 302A West 12th St. #157, NY, NY 10014. All contributions under $200 are made out to Kirschenbaum Productions.

Fundraising House parties
There is another opportunity: If you can really get behind this project and want to work with me, I'm looking for someone who can orchestrate fundraising house parties. That means you get a bunch of your friends, colleagues, acquaintances together and host an evening where I show this trailer and fill the crowd in on the film, its current state and where it's heading. It's a fun night and we all get to laugh, mingle and My Nose keeps getting funded on its way to the finish line.

You can always email if you have any questions to info@dogamentary.com.

Have a great day!
Gayle

Reunions

2006-05-13T08:13:00.000-04:00

After more than 25 years I was reunited with my cousin, Carol all because of Chelsea. When I think about it there are so many people who have come back into my life because of my little dog-ter. They have either found the website by accident, for example Kathi now in Florida, was researching Shih Tzus in quest of getting one, Eric from Brussels, a friend I met in the late 70s skiing in the French alps, was doing research on dogs for a TV show he was producing. Others have read about me and Chelsea in the press or seen us on TV or heard us on the radio. Or some saw A Dog's Life when it premiered on HBO. However they found us, I'm thrilled to have all these people back into my life. I say life is like a play and on the stage just so many people can fit at one time, so the lights go down on one and come up on another. So essentially all the people we meet in our life are always there but sometimes the light is dim on them allowing the light to shine on another, but in the future when the time is right the light will shine on them again.
What's going on here? Busy working and having fun, too. Did the five-boro bike-a-thon and was just upstate. A dear friend bought the most gorgeous B&B, an old Victorian House. Okay, back to work. Have a great day all!
And if I didn't mention this before, Chelsea and I will be at the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia on July 11th, Sunday 7Pm screening. www.whitedog.com. I will update the screening page with all else that is going on.
Hugs, Gayle Licks, Chelsea and switch those around! Have a great day!

New York, New York

2006-04-25T09:35:00.000-04:00

I wrote the following piece several years ago when I was living in a LA and moving back to NY.

New York, New York
by Gayle Kirschenbaum

I have fallen in love with an old flame. A flame who is passionate, hot, cold, unpredictable, thunderous, steamy, takes me places I never thought I could go, keeps me up at night singing in my ears making my body pulsate.

I forgot what’s it’s like to be loved, admired, desired and turned on in a way that no other flame can do it to me like my old flame…New York.

Yes, a metropolis, a menagerie filled with yellow, white, red, black, brown. You name it; it all exists in New York. Every color of the rainbow, every language of the planet, every food of the world, every fantasy you can imagine… nearly every.

You want to dress up, put on a slinky black dress and heels and hit the street. You better believe you’ll be noticed and perhaps noticed by someone you want to be noticed by.

None of this get all dressed up and hop into you car where all which is noticed is the chrome which surrounds you. And all that is judged is the year, make and condition of your vehicle.

You are on babe, no shield around you, no car guards, just you, your walk, your sway, your smile, your stance, your glance, your attitude, you babe… it’s you on stage. It’s your time to strut, to communicate, to send out your message to all the hundreds of passersby, all the potential lovers, husbands, friends, buddies, dance partners, tennis partners, cultural partners, angels, dream fulfillers. They are all out there looking at you, thinking about you, wanting you, choosing you.

I’ve spent far too much time in Los Angeles, the heart of the entertainment industry, the city of illusions, the city of Palm Trees, plastic surgery, broken promises, rags to riches, riches to rags, bean sprouts, jimbaya juice, sunshine, more sunshine, smiles, more smiles, thank yous, hi, how are yous?, let’s do lunch, yoga, celebrity yoga, Kaballah, celebrity Kaballah, who you know not what you know, ideas--original, stolen, lost -- brilliance, creativity, hard knocks, big breaks, sex, drugs and rock and roll…alone, aloneness, isolation, depression, mood swings, failure, success, awards, Emmys, Oscars, acknowledgements, applause, fame, opened doors, come in, get out, come in, get out, yes, no, yes, no. Breathe deeply, don’t stop breathing because you must keep it together, keep going, never stop, it will happen, don’t give up, roll with the punches, stand tall, don’t hunch over, it’s time, it’s your time, it was your time, it’s your time again. Enough, stop, I want to get off of this ride!

I did. I am. I’m getting off, slowly. One foot at a time. Don’t want to fall, don’t want to lose all which I worked for, don’t want not to eat lunch in this town again, Hollywood town. Only an occasional lunch, when I’m there, when I’m not with my new lover, New York.

New York, the city that allows you to be yourself, the city where being a foreigner is the norm. The city where native born Americans can understand strong foreign accents. The city where “we all get along.” Thank you Rodney King. The city where the rich, poor, beautiful, ugly cross the same street, get wet from the same puddle and share the same frustration.

The city where you can wake up and it’s a heat wave and go to sleep and it’s hailing. Starved for nature, for trees, tired of all the cement, tall buildings, crowded streets, head up to Central Park. Escape into the meadows, rent a boat and row out on the lake, find a quiet patch of thick green grass, lay down and read a book, bring your dog, have a picnic, bring your lover, significant other, drink wine, eat cheese and bread, listen to a classical concert, watch a Shakespeare play. It’s New York, the place where all is accepted. The place where you can walk proudly arm and arm with your lover even your same sex lover.

Confused, lost not sure whether to turn right or left. Don’t worry, if you stand looking confused and happen to have a map in your hand, someone will come over to you and offer you help. If you don’t have a lost look, then stop one of the several people around you and I promise they will help you. Why, because New Yorkers are helpful! Because many New Yorkers were once newcomers and lost themselves. And if they weren’t they know what’s its like to be lost somewhere and want to help others.

I know you’re thinking I’m wearing my rose tinted glasses and New York is crowded, the people are pushy and it’s impossible to get a cab. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there’s truth to all that but so WHAT! You can’t have everything. Life is about choices and my choice is NYC. Thank you.

Tuesday morning

2006-04-25T09:31:00.000-04:00

I actually never realized how many people in my life are reading this. I feel like I should be writing more often. I love interaction so please dont' be shy and write back. Chelsea is home sleeping or perhaps she was picked up and is hanging out with her friend Nathaniel. I escaped to a cafe and have much writing to do but emails bog me down, yet are a great way of communicating fast. I think I will use the blog now and then to publish essays I'm written in the past. Beautiful day in NY.
Enjoy!

Spring Time

2006-04-10T07:02:00.000-04:00

Chelsea and I are heading down to Florida to visit my mom and brother and his family. I will see first hand how mom is doing since Dad's passing. By phone, she sounds great. Keeping quite busy. A Dog's Life was invited to the Festival in Avignon in June and mom and I are making a holiday of it, stopping in Germany and making a little trip in France. Should be fun. It will be the first time I traveled alone with mom but I've been saying for years from everyone in my family she is the most adventurous and most likely the one who I'd enjoyed traveling with. Haven't been in Europe since the Euros. No bargains in Europe anymore.
Due to dad's death there has been several weeks which passed that I didn't post some pictures from before. Chelsea and I went to Fire Island this winter and were there for a snow storm. It was wonderful. Here's a picture of Chelsea wearing her ski suit.

Oh, I had a bizarre dream about Chelsea. Someone had said they spotted fleas on her and I couldn't find them. I took her out for a walk and "shit" out a pigeon and then kept going and shit out another one. What the hell does that mean?
Okay, all got to go. Be well. Hugs and licks, Gayle and Chelsea

Dad's last days

2006-03-21T23:33:00.000-05:00

It’s now six weeks since my father had his stroke and three weeks since he passed away.
My dad had a full life. He passed away at 86 years “young”, as my brother said during his eulogy. I want to share with you what happened at the end.
When I got the news that my father had a stroke, I was not home. I was at L’Oreal getting my hair colored. Yeah, I know you all thought my hair was still completely untouched by gray. I left there at around 5 PM and saw I had a message from my brother. He left word telling me to call that it was urgent. My brother never uses the word urgent not even when his wife who was extremely ill from breast cancer and chemotherapy. I knew something horrible had happened. I called him back immediately and learned my father had a massive stroke.

I arrived to Ft Lauderdale at midnight and by 1:30 AM I was in the ICU unit with my mother and nephew. There was dad laying there with IVs in him. His eyes would open now and then but it didn’t seem like he could see us. His right side was paralyzedhi and he was able to move his left side, which had lots of strength. He actually looked good; he had color in his face but it was hard to see him laying there like that, not knowing what he could hear, what he could understand and what the prognosis was. His was moving one leg over the other. The nurse said it was an involuntary action.

Dad got to the hospital in less than an hour after his stroke. Many of you know about the miracle drug, TPA, the clot buster that can only be administered if it’s less than three hours after the stroke. Dad was a candidate for this drug, which can reverse the stroke. The risk was he could bleed out and die. My brother who is a doctor made the decision to go ahead realizing it was worth the risk. The stroke didn’t reverse; Dad didn’t bleed out and die. It had no effect at all.

The days passed and we went to visit him three times a day at all the ICU visiting hours, which were brief. One day I started singing songs from Fiddler on the Roof (and if you know me, you know I can’t sing – in fact, a doctor walked over to me in the ICU unit and wondered where the horrible sound was coming from) In any event, my dad was moving his hand and leg to the song. He even at times lifted his hand and was moving it as if he was conducting.

When I knew he could hear, I went out and bought a Walkman and brought in his Frank Sinatra tapes for him to listen to. He continued to move his hand and leg to the music.

Dad had a living will and often spoke about how he didn’t want to be kept alive or put in a nursing home. The days passed and dad was getting more and more black and blue. He was now on a blood thinner because they were afraid he would have another stroke. He was also developing his first bedsore and had a fever from a urinary infection caused by the catheter. He was being fed by a feeding tube running into his nose and down the back of his throat to his stomach.

They kept his left arm, the only one he could move strapped to the side of the bed to prevent him from pulling out the tube. When we would arrive for our visit we would unstrap it so he could move his arm. The entire time we were there he never once tried to pull it out. He would often reach up and gently scratch or touch his face or nose or forehead, avoiding the tube in his nose as if he knew it was there.

Eleven days had passed since his stroke and he no longer qualified for the ICU. All his vital signs were good. We met with the neurologist who told us the prognosis was bad. At most, maybe one day he would stand but the severity of the brain damage wasn’t clear. Maybe he would be able to say a word but what his cognition would be is unclear. He knew Dad had a living will and recommended hospice.

I have to admit I was still hanging on more than my brothers or mother. I wondered if we had given him enough time to see if he could come out of it before pulling the plug.

We kept Dad in the hospital that night. By the next day, mom made a decision to transport Dad to hospice where there would be no feeding tube and IV.

We met Dad there. The hospice aide shaved Dad’s face and cleaned him. He looked good and no longer was hooked to machines. He looked at peace.

That night I took pictures and even shot some video. The Olympics were on and Dad’s eyes were open looking at the TV. If you didn’t know he was in a semi coma and couldn’t speak, you’d think he was about to tell you to change the channel. Mom put her head on his chest and he rubbed her arm. It seemed completely purposeful but others have said it was an automatic response. I never agreed with that. I’m sure he knew it was mom.

I returned to New York for a few days to handle some things and got pretty sick – fever, cold, virus.

I volunteer in hospice with my dog and have seen many people dying in my life. My father was a funeral director so I grew up seeing dead bodies and never thought anything about it. But what I was about to experience was completely new and heart wrenching.

I returned back to Florida a few days later. My father had deteriorated from not having any nutrition or water. It was excruciating to watch him die so quickly like this. He was losing weight severely and his face was falling in. The color of his legs was becoming motley.

My elder brother, my mother and I were with him. I was going to sleep there that night but my mother thought it would be best if I slept at home since I was so sick. I was relieved. I was afraid to be there for his last breath.

The next morning I woke feeling much worse with a high fever. I stayed home and slept. In fact, I slept the entire day, something I never do, not even when I had malaria and 107 fever. It was as if I was intoxicated. My brother and mother returned late that night. They were distraught. My father’s feet were now blue.

We all went to bed. I woke at 5 AM feeling all healed. No fever, no stuffed sinuses, my energy was back. I started thinking that 9 hours had passed since they saw Dad and since hospice hadn’t call, then he was still alive. What did he look like now? My mother and brother woke and I asked both of them if either wanted to be with Dad when he took his last breath. They both said no, it would be too difficult.

I stepped into the shower feeling strong and healthy and started speaking to my Dad. No, he wasn’t there. He was at the hospice center. I kept saying, “Dad, don’t be afraid to let go. Don’t worry about mom. I will take care of her. You are looking like a corpse and it’s hard to see you like this. Please, Dad, you must let go and don’t worry.” I repeated this over and over. I stepped out of the shower and the phone rang. It was 7:45. The next thing I heard was my mother banging on the bathroom door, telling me not to wash my hair, dad died and we needed to head over there.

When we arrived, he was laying there with a rose on him. He was already feeling cold. He no longer looked like my Dad. I knew he was not there anymore and I was just looking at a shell.

I was curious to find out if anyone was with him when he had taken his last breath. The hospice doctor saw him a half-hour before he died. An aide walked in the room and told us she was with him when he took his last breath. It was exactly 7:45 AM. Coincidence?

I continue to speak to him as if he could hear me. Two days before he had a stroke he told me to hurry up and get married, that he wanted to come to my wedding. That was a tall order considering there wasn’t any candidate. When I do get married I know Dad will be there in spirit.

Dad is now at peace and has left me with a lifetime of wonderful memories. It is now time to celebrate his life and look forward to new beginnings.

Thank you for reading this long story I so wanted to share.

My Dad's passing

2006-03-05T10:40:00.000-05:00

It is nearly two months since I've made an entry and much has happened. Some good and something horrible. My niece got married. I had a few business trips and then on February 6th my father had a massive stroke. He was fine before. In fact, we were dancing at a wedding together. They didn't give him a good prognosis and we took him off feeding and let him die in hospice. What was so horrible was watching his body become a corpse laying there without food and water. His feet became discoloured and his feet turned blue. OMG, to watch someone you love transform like that within days it's so painful. I have been lucky to have had both parents for a long time. Dad never wanted to be kept alive on machines or live in a nursing home. He had a living will and we honored that. But where is Dr Kevorkian? Wouldn't it be more humane to give someone a shot and let them die peacefully. I can go on and on about this and his death but I will spare you. Chelsea wasn't there. My mom was so stressed and I know she is not a dog person and didn't want Chelsea down there so I left her with Jane and Theresa. She is with me know and we flying down together today. I pray for my mom's strength and power to heal from losing her partner of 63 years.

One more pix

2006-01-06T11:04:00.000-05:00

This is me and my friend Debbie relaxing in my cousin's home in Canada. What a great vacation. Peaceful, lots of love, great people, food, serene beautiful landscape. snow everywhere.

Happy New Year

2006-01-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

Turns out this holiday was great. I reconnected with family in Canada that I hadn't seen in 30 years. They have large country home in the Laurentian mountains outside of Montreal. My aunt is turning 90, my grandmother's younger sister and she is sharp as could be. I took along a video camera and got on tape some family history. I'm so moved by her, her daughter and entire family. Incredible people. Self made, filled with love and generousity. No, Chelsea wasn't with me but she might get invited another time. I met Diesel, my cousin Sara's dog and fell in love. I don't easily fall in love with humans or animals but there is just something about Diesel which grabbed my heart. His sweet, gentle disposition. He reminds me of Chelsea. I will include some pictures.

DVD Launch Party

2005-12-13T10:14:00.000-05:00

Days, weeks go by without saying hi to you all. So sorry. No excuse. What's happened since we last wrote?
Okay, here's the info on the launch party Thursday. Please come if you are in NY.

Thanksgiving

2005-11-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

New York. Cold, crispy night. Had dinner with friends yesterday. The streets of the village are calm.

Back in NY

2005-11-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

Chelsea and I had a good trip to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, she got attacked by fleas. I was worried this might happen since she is very allergic so before leaving I put Frontline on her. But, that didn't seem to do a thing. We went to visit a friend of mine who had just rescued a cat. By the time, we went back to where we were staying Chelsea was scratching like crazy and covered in fleas. Not good. It was midnight and I found a drug store, bought flea shampoo and bathed her. She slept peacefully but by morning she was scratching and the fleas were back. We ran out and bought Advantage and I applied this on her back. That eventually killed the fleas but the damage was done and she was bitten all over. Poor kid. This was one of the battles we constantly dealt with while living in Los Angeles. Thank God that is not a problem in New York. Other than that, we had some wonderful meetings and got to visit with friends. Nat hosted us and couldn't do enough. There was always a home cook meal waiting for us. Much to do as always. Just finished a funny short film/promo called MY NOSE. No, Chelsea isn't in this one. But we are working on other stuff together. Don't worry she is running my life! Have a great day. Hugs, Gayle Licks, Chelsea and please don't switch that around!

At AFM in LA

2005-11-06T20:10:00.000-05:00

Chelsea and I just flew into LA to attend AFM (American Film Market) which her film is being sold. Passion River is our foreign sales agent. Chelsea is crashed out on the floor next to me and I feel like doing the same. I'm pooped. Slept three hours last night. We will be here all week. A few days for the market and then meetings and friends. Remember we lived here for 13 years. Or I should say I lived here for 13 years and Chelsa entered my life when I was here. It's hard to be "on" when all you want to do is go to sleep. This is the first time I'm at this market with a film and it's a good feeling. I know I've been behind on this entries and I'm sorry. Every now and then I hear from an old friend who tells me he or she read it to find out what was going on with us. We've had some screenings and they went great. It seems like this little film Chelsea and I made really speak to dog lovers all over. I'm amazed at how often I bump into someone who has come back to see it again. The DVD is going to be Borders, Barnes and Nobles, lots of DVD stores and even Petsmart. Please spread the word. I'm doing all the manufacturing and if it doesn't sell ...oy! I must take them back. It's like the publishing business.

No plans for Christmas yet. I'd love to take Chelsea and head up to Quebec, maybe even do some skiing. Okay, later.

Chicago Backer Show

2005-10-16T00:37:00.000-04:00

Chelsea and I headed last week to Chicago to attend the large pet industry show. We were in the cab when I realized I had forgotten my coat...and I don't well when I'm cold. I knew I wasn't heading into the city but staying near the airport so I decided to buy whatever I could at the Neward airport which turned out to be a sweatshirt saying "Jersey Girl" in light blue and a hood. Not quite my style. We arrived to Chicago and soon got to our hotel only to notice a Target next door. Wow! We don't Target in Manhattan. Chelsea and I found our way there and ended up on a shopping spree. I know old three green jackets and Chelsea did quite well at the show. She is the proud owner a beautiful black Shearling coat and a fashionable, red ski outfit. All she needs are skiis. She informed me she was interested in snowboarding not skiing.

Anyway, some great news. The DVD of our film A DOG'S LIFE: A DOGAMENTARY will be in several stores including Borders and Petsmart. So keep your eyes open for it. We will even be doing signings. We will probably have postings on the website and of course you can always buy it on our site.

Los Angeles is our next trip. Not vacation but work. We are heading there for the American Film Market.

I just read Al Roker was peddling a doggie show. I find that so funny because he did our interview three years and was really condescending about a woman spending so much time documenting her life her dog. I was informed he didn't have animals and nor did he like them.. not verified. But he probably realized that he is a minority and much demand in this area.

Okay, need to get the newsletter done and Chelsea wants to head up to the loft to sleep.
Write us, and please send your funny photo for the photo contest.

Frederick Franck

2005-09-18T13:10:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, Chelsea and I and a couple of friends headed up to a beautiful place called Pacem in Terrace. It's in upstate NY ... and the home of artist/philosopher Frederick Franck - see link below. Beautiful grounds.

http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/00-09-07/art.htm
The picture with the scuplted hand is on his grounds and one of his sculptures.

And these other pictures were taken when we stopped to have some ice cream and Chelsea made a few friends.

Chelsea attacked by a cat

2005-09-18T12:45:00.000-04:00

OMG, it was the horrific experience I've had with my dog-ter. Here goes. Friday night Chelsea took me out for a walk. We noticed a man bent over in pain next to his bike. I soon learned that he lived in our building. The ambulance arrived and the paramedics were taking him to the hospital. He was concerned about his bike and I offered to wheel it home for him. I got his phone number and wife's name. I called her and she went off the hospital to get visit him. The next morning I called to check in with her and told her I'd could bring the bike back to her because Chelsea and I were heading out for a walk anyway. Chelsea and I arrived to their apartment. We walked in, I was wheeling the bike. In a matter of seconds a black cat jumped on Chelsa with one intention, to rip her to pieces. Yes, I saw my life before me. The woman (she is now a new friend) tried to get her cat off of Chelsea as I tried to pick up Chelsea. The cat was filled with rage and was relentless. He was biting everyone. I finally succeeded to get Chelsea as the cat was now biting my hands and arms. I got up and got out and slammed the door behind me. We were all bleeding and in shock. Chelsea and I jumped in the shower to clean off and we went to the vet. She is wounded in several places but nothing deep enough to require stitches. And was shaking non stop. But my boss is having a quick recovery. Thank God. We've been out a few walks since and she is gradually gaining her strength and confidence. Now, I have no idea how she will be when she sees a cat again.

Okay, so the day continues. The woman who owns the cat whose husband ended up with a dislocated shoulder the night before from falling off his bike kept calling to make sure Chelsea and I were okay. I stopped by later in the day to pick up my glasses which had fallen off in the midst of the fight. I noticed her finger which had been punctured by the cat in several places was all swollen. She is a recent cancer survivor and doesn't have any lymph nodes. I knew although she was also on antibiotics like me and Chelsea, her injury wasn't looking good. I convinced her to the hospital and I told her I'd go with her and we went up to Sloan Kettering together. We were there til 1AM but she received fabulous treatment and her wounds were cleaned out. And we came home and she was grateful she had gone. So was I. Chelsea missed me as I did her but we went out for a walk and she was no longer crying when I picked her up.

The woman is a painter and before we knew it we were happy to get to know each other. What a way to make a friend! I'm not pushing Chelsea's friendship with her cat.

Writing... newsletter

2005-08-29T21:23:00.000-04:00

So, Chelsea and I are launching the "dogamentary" newsletter. The only thing holding us up is the programming which is out of my hands. We did the newsletter and it looks good but there is one problem which is out of my control. Hmm? I'm open to ideas about the best way to organize data and get out newsletters. Chelsea is not with me. She is hanging with her cat brother, Nathaniel who likes to go over to her and lick her head. She isn't so keen on it since she doesn't exactly trust him. Let's just say, that he has to be put out at the vet's office when they work on him. But he loves Chels. Okay...write... more later!

New Hampshire pix

2005-08-15T20:59:00.009-04:00

Okay, so we went to a beautiful lake. Chelsea loves to swim and it was paradise.

Monday night in the Big Apple

2005-08-15T20:09:00.000-04:00

So, are you reading this? Yes... then why don't write to me or Chelsea? Are you a voyuer? Do you like to peek into people's lifes? That's good because I like to share, share my stories, my life. What titillating story can I tell you? Are you a dog lover or do you just know me and want to get into my head or Chelsea's head? Summer, heat. It's been so hot in NY with thunderstorms. I love a good electrical storm but Chelsea panics, starts shaking. I was at the gym yesterday when it started to pour and thunder. The winds were heavy and my bike which was chained to a pole was nearly on the ground held up only by the the heavy duty chain. I wanted to unlock it and head home so I could take my shaking dog-ter and hold her in my arms and reassure her it was okay. But the winds were so strong and everyone advised me to wait it out. I did. There was a slight break and I ran for it. Got the bike unlocked and peddled quickly home. The storm had stopped, temporarily and Chelsea was okay. No hints of emotional damage. We were together and I held her tightly and told her how much I loved her. She looked at me and gave me a kiss. Chelsea loves to tongue. For the longest time she would only French me but now, years later after being a therapy dog and having many human friends who love her she is quite free with her kisses, however, still selective.
Chelsea spent a month in New Hampshire. It's gorgeous, God's country. I will upload a few pix. My little girl even went in the lake. She is quite the swimmer.

Post sailing & Vegas

2005-08-04T01:16:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how much time has passed since I wrote. I have since learned that several people in my life seem to be checking out the blog. I'd be really inspired if you wrote a comment... then I'd know you are out there paying attention, interested in what's going on with me, with Chelsea. Just say anything.

I'm pretty pooped. Went sailing tonight on the Long Island Sound. No moon, no stars but a nice breeze. There is something so healing about feeling the wind on my face. I just returned from Vegas. No, Chelsea didn't come. She is in New Hampshire and has been there for nearly a month. I will be going there in a couple of days to get her. Vegas was a business trip. I went pedaling the DVD at a conference for home video. Met some interesting folks and definitely sparked interest. I had a chance to see old friends who live there.

So, if you entered my life and we got to know each other and let's say we dated and I started writing about you in this blog but never mentioned your name, would that piss you off? What are blogs for? Isn't this where you can just let your mind wander, a diary but public, a place that is safe as long as you don't intentionally hurt someone but then again I guess plenty of people feel free to do that. If you know me, if I encounter you one way or another, you might end up here but I'll distort you if you like, make you hard to be recognized. ... Love... where can I go with that word, that feeling? Compassion, power, generousity, humor. Laughter, it's so important laugh, to see the light side of life. I have a friend who just loss his wife of 37 years, they were never apart, they were partners in every way, work, love, friends. I can't imagine how difficult it must be lose someone who has he put was his other half. I've never had that kind of relationship. How did I go from laughter to death and grieving? I've been accused by my last b-friend of being ADD. I tested negative but I think he is right. My wanders all the time and I'm great at interrupting not only the person I'm talking with but worst of all, myself. How rude!

I'm rambling and my head is spinning along with my body which feels like I'm still rocking on the sail boat. It's late and I need to say good-night and head up to the loft. Sweet dreams! Chelsea will be writing, too once she gets back on the computer.

Saturday night in Florida

2005-07-09T18:37:00.000-04:00

There are hurricaine warnings in the Florida keys. We are up in Boca and heading to dinner at the clubhouse. Yes, I'm lucky to have both folks alive and well and in their 80s. My 10 year old nephew is here, too. He should be a zoologist. Loves animals, all kinds. He found an egg outside and we are now researching what to do with it so it lives and hatches. Gotta go. They are calling.

NY Screening July 12th

2005-07-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention that the extended version, the director's cut, will be screening a Makor Cultural Center
in NY on Tuesday, July 12th at 7:30 PM. It's part of the 92nd street Y. 35 West 67th Street.
I'll be there and will have some DVDs on hand.

You can find more info by going to their site
www.makor.org and looking up screenings or of course going to www.dogamentary.com
and hitting the screenings button.

I'm trying to figure out how to do links with this blog. Technically challenged. Will get back to you
once I've got it.
Take care,

Shih Tzu Meetup gather

2005-07-08T08:02:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
This pix was taken at the NY Shih Tzu meet up group. There's my girl in the center. Just when I think I'm the only nut about my baby I meet several other mommies who make me feel like normal. This is a great group of Shih Tzus and humans. Do you know about meetup.com? It's a great site to find people of common interests. I just joined a sailing group and a few others.

As I write this, I'm in Florida. Chelsea is in NY with her nannies. I had to fly down here quickly due to a death in my family. My aunt. Chelsesa is heading to New Hampshire on Sunday with her nannies who are really the family that love her dearly. They have a gorgeous summer home on a great piece of property and Chelsea always loves it there. I miss her already. But we decided it was best to do since I will have to do some more traveling for business. I'm heading to Vegas, not my favorite city, but who cares, for a conference in the home video world. I'll be there with the DVD of A DOG'S LIFE: A DOGAMENTARY and hopefully selling tons and securing a distribution deal. The last time I was in Vegas I was making a movie about Debbie REynolds and her daughter, Carrie Fisher, for Lifetime.. an Intimate Portrait. Debbie Reynolds owned a hotel there.

So what's new in my romantic life? Well, the guy who is married who I dumped I'm back in touch with but as he recommends I'm keeping my options open. So who knows who will come into my life. I'm planning on doing lots of sailing this summer and when Chelsea returns from New Hampshire I'm getting her a life jacket and see how she handles the seas.

Oh, and yes, it's me in Oprah magazine. I was celebrating my milestone birthday.

Okay, lots of love to all and please write.

Mermaid Parade

2005-06-25T18:28:00.000-04:00

Just back from Coney Island where I went to see the Mermaid parade. So many people and so hot. A wild time but I think I function better in less heat and around less people. Hit the beach and it was quite windy so no matter how you sat you got sprayed with sand. No, Chelsea didn't join me. Met a Shih Tzu and his owners were so sorry they brought him. Not the weather for Shih Tzus or most dogs. Okay, gonna jump in the shower now. Later.

Provincetown

2005-06-20T19:43:00.000-04:00

Just back from the Provincetown International Film Festival at the tip of Cape Cod. We sold the DVD to several people including five stores. So, if you end up in Provincetown check out the pet stores and video stores there. Chelsea, of course, was with me and a male friend. Yes, the one I've written about before. Don't get excited. I doubt he will be my husband but we have a good time together. Provincetown is quaint. One main street, Commercial Street, filled with shops, restaurants and some street performers, mostly Drag Queens. The weather was cool which I didn't mind. Didn't get into a bathing suit. I'd rather it be cool than hot and humid. Okay, the newsletter is on its way. Stay tuned.

update- Provincetown

2005-06-11T10:25:00.000-04:00

Philly was quite a wonderful experience. It was the first International Dog Film Festival and we were found through the internet. It was at the Museum of Natural Sciences and it was sold out with a three page waiting list. People were annoyed that they couldn't get in. Chelsea was not there physically because she wasn't allowed into the museum. But she was there in every other way. Of course, most people asked where she was, afterall, she is the star. No problem, she needed a rest. My faithful and incredible assistant, Roja, came down and assisted in selling the DVDs. There were lots of films, mostly short shorts, 2-10 minutes. We were the longest at 30. We made a weekend of this and visited old friends who I hadn't seen in at least 16 or 18 years. They now had a 14 year old son. Amazing what can happen over a decade or two. I did come down with the guy I'm dating which I can't go into now. Funny, after the film a common question, I'm asked is if I met someone. If you see the flick you will know why. I hestitate to say yes. Not sure where my current relationship is heading. Quite challenging in many ways. Did I mentioned I received an email from someone I was hanging with in college. Thirty years later...wow! I was written up in my alumni- Suny Binghamton and voila he found me. The one thing about being out there...like I am at the moment, due to the website, the film and press, is that people find you. So far, I've been thrilled about everyone who has. I'm a bit sentimental and love to have contact from friends. I just got bad news yesterday. My best friend in first grade, Gail Seslowe passed away from a heart attack. Too young. Chelsea is pacing and giving me that look like when are we going out. I better sign off. Please write. And yes, we are headed to Provincetown next Thursday. Our dogamentary is screening at the Provincetown International film Festival on next Friday and Saturday, hit here for details.
http://www.dogamentary.com/Premieres.html.
And I've been asked about the DVD. You can also buy in a VHS format and it does have all the extras too. Go to
http://www.dogamentary.com/main.html and then hit DVD/VHS button. We are on Amazon too but it's better for us if you buy it from our site. Please spread the word. We will soon be looking to set up a screening tour to raise money for animal welfare groups and will find a sponsor. If you are interesed in being involved, please email me.

DVD is out

2005-06-02T01:10:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe how much time has passed since I wrote. So much is happening. First you will see the DVD is available on the site. Pretty cool. We have a few theatrical screenings coming up. One this weekend in Philly and next weekend in Provincetown, Cape Cod at the film festival. Check out the screenings page.

It's quite late and I can barely keep my eyes open. Chelsea is sound asleep. I better in the morning that the nights.
Oh, yeah, we are starting a newsletter with an animal pyschic, Catherine Ferguson.

If you have any stories you want publish about your doggie, feel free to email them in with a your doggie pix. We will publish one or two monthly along with a couple of free psychic readings.

Please let me know what else you'd like from a newsletter.

On a mundane topic, it's so cold in NY for the beginning of June. I had to run home today and pick up my winter coat. I tend to get cold quickly and so does Chelsea. Chelsea is doing okay but she has lost a couple of pounds whch I can't seem to figure out. She is eating better than ever. The doctor took tests but he doesn't seem to be alarmed. He said that her liver enzymes are slightly higher but nothing to worry about. Anyone have any suggestions.

We are being interviewed by a Japanese newspaper tomorrow. I'm thrilled because I'm told by many that they are nuts about their dogs too, and treat them like kids so hopefully, they will relate to our film.

Well, must get some sleep. Hugs, Gayle

Melbourne, Florida

2005-04-24T13:07:00.000-04:00

The sun is shining. Chelsea and I came down here to visit family. Lots of kids and lots of room. She has been running around, in the grass, in the 5000 square foot home and on the beach. What a life! And lots of animals here: turtles, gerbles, fish, reptiles. Chelsea is going pretty wild investigating all these species. She jumped in with the turtles and stuck her face in theirs. Needless to say, the pulled back and so she gently started using her paw to get their attention. I think it's time to get Chelsea a pet. Okay, we have to go to an art fair. Later...

site relocate

2005-04-18T20:56:00.000-04:00

We just switched host for the site and I noticed a few problems such as missing pictures. So, please be patient and we'll fix this soon.
It was a warm, sunny day in New York today. Heading to the laundry. Did you ever feel like your mind is running in so many different directions?

Previous entries

2005-04-14T07:44:00.000-04:00

By the way, if you want to read back entries before we started the blog we had a "diary" page which is still up.
It's a button on the right and that will take you back to 2001 when we started the site. Enjoy!

You not going to believe this

2005-04-14T07:35:00.000-04:00

He contacted me desperate to speak with me. I ignored his phone calls because he had done enough damage and I had told him to leave me alone. It's the man I dated who went back to his wife which you can read about in the previous entry. Then he showed up in my neighborhood. My dear friend bumped into him on the street and asked if he was heading to see me and she according to him, ripped him a second "asshole". He seem to take it. Must know that she was right. In any event, the man who can't make up his mind about anything, has confessed he made a mistake by going back to his wife and told me he knows it might be too late but he would like to be with me. That he sees himself with me five years from now. Can I trust this person? He doesn't have a good track record with sticking with what he says. I told him not to call me until he was divorced. He suggested faxing me with the documents. Okay, all, I'm not sitting here holding my breath. But now there is a thought, a glimmer of hope, perhaps he will do it, perhaps we will be together. I know the biggest mistake in my life would to be sitting here thinking about him and waiting for that moment. So, Chelsea and I are not. We have lots to do. This summer I want to sail and write. Get going on many projects.
We are working on the DVD and it will be great. Pretty excited about it.
So, that's it for now. Chelsea is up in the loft asleep. I can hear her dreaming. WIll wake the sleeping beauty up pretty soon. BTW, here best friend, Roxy who they said would be dead a few months ago is still with us. She is doing okay and Chelsea spend a lot of time with her. When she is there, Roxy eats. They are so cute together. Have a great day!

Newsletter on its way

2005-04-07T08:29:00.000-04:00

I'm really excited. I'm starting a newsletter and I have found the most wonderful animal psychic. I will soon be asking for questions and pictures of your dog.

Please let me know what else you would like in a newsletter.

I was thinking to publish some of your stories about your dogs and of course, keep you up to date with Chelsea and her adventures and products.

Cheers,
Gayle

bad romance

2005-04-07T08:19:00.000-04:00

Hi,
Sorry for such a long silence. First of all, you won't believe that the guy who I was dating who was separated from his wife and swore they were on their way to getting divorce and then went from planning a future with me to telling me it was over and he went back to his wife. What is wrong with these guys?! No matter how many times I asked him if it was over and he kept telling me it was. How about some sensitivity? How about a reality check? How do you mislead someone? So, it was over and of course I never wish anyone anything bad and don't seem to have a vindictive bone in my body, and I know Chelsea surely doesn't, we said good-bye wishing each other well. I immediately gave him back his things I asked him to send me back my things. Instead of doing that, he called to get together, have dinner, go to a movie. We had a bit of business to talk about so I agreed. What a horrible time! He brought me back most of my things but getting the money he owed suddenly was coming with conditions. He had to be kidding. I was sitting next to him, Mr. Movie buff, suffering through the worse independent film his friend made who he reveres, and couldn't stay a minute longer. I left and told him to mail the check. I went home and proceeded to have a nightmare that I was now living across from him and his wife and our windows faced each other and I could see him stroking his wife. The worse thing was waking up and finding his t-shirt next to my bed. I called him and said, "Don't call me again! Good luck." How insensitive can a person be?
You know, if I was a schmuck I'd mention his name but there is no point to that.
So, I'm taking a break from men and focusing on Chelsea, work and friends and family.

Have a wonderful day!

Lesson learned

2005-03-31T00:15:00.000-05:00

Never go out with a man who is separated but not divorced, even if he tells you he is getting a divorce. Don't believe him. No matter what he tells you. I did the stupidest thing against my better judgement and Chelsea joined me. We both opened our heart to a man, who swept us off our feet, cooked for us, massaged our feet, wined and dined us, talk about the future together and then turned on a dime. No matter how many times I asked him if he was sure he was finished with his wife, making sure he was free, I wasn't getting in the way, he kept reassuring me I wasn't, like a fool, I believed him. He was so kind to Chelsea. Gave her tons of love. We laughed together. But there were some little signs which I just ignored, thinking he needed space, like he said. And his mother died the night of our first date. I felt so horrible for him, I gave him a heart, a glass heart which he kept with him, that's what he said, until night when told me he reconciled with his wife and I aske for my heart back only to learn he didn't have it. Okay, Mr. Right. You better be free of any emotional attachments, and single, or don't come calling here. I have learned my lesson. I'm happy he is reconciled with his wife because I hate to see families split but what was I thinking that I opened myself up for this. My eyes are swollen from crying and fatigue. I'm going to take Chelsea and head up to the loft. I wish him the best. And most importantly Chelsea and I wish you all the best!
Good night

Rainy Monday night.

2005-03-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

What a horrible weather day! Windy and rainy. Chelsesa is pretty bold. There is a section in the back of our building where there is soil and plants. She loves to go there and do her business and kick up the dirt. Everytime she does that she reminds me she really is a dog who just happens to be a diva. Many have asked about my dating life. Chelsea has met a man whom she seems to have a great connection with. He gives her many massages and has a warm, loving heart towards her. He is not light with his hands but she just takes it from this sweet, macho man. I dig him, too. Fun to hang with. We all laugh lots. Having a male buddy who we hang with definitely is great. Chelsea and I can get use his company but we need to have our time to get all our work done.

We've receiving many touching emails from Shih Tzu parents. Some of are from folks who just lost their Shih Tzu child. How sad and painful. We send our healing love.

Anyone know a good doggie psychic? Write to us. We love to hear from you.

Monday morning

2005-03-21T07:33:00.000-05:00

Chelsea is sound asleep in the loft. It's raining out. Pigeons have found a new home on the air conditioner. Anyone have any suggestions how to get them to relocate? I'm convinced I have ADD. Start writing here and then skip over to another page, another program, something else which is on my mind to do. That "to do" list...keeps growing. I must wake Chelsea up. They're back. The pigeons. They are botherng my neighbor who keeps knocking on the window. Must get a handy man to help me close the gap. Got some beautiful pix from fans. Chelsea will be judging the photo contest in the next month so ge those stories and pix in. Must go for now. Have a great day!

Wednesday night

2005-03-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

Last night was the television premiere of A Dog's Life. I had a few friends over. Cooked some dinner and watched the film. Wow! What incredible compliments. We ended up getting reviewed in Newsday, a New York paper. Thank you! "Poignant bordering on profound!" Write to us!

Sunday morning- Chelsea's Birthday

2005-03-13T10:16:00.000-05:00

I woke up feeling a bit gloomy. Have so much to do. Taxes, expenses, paperwork, writing, website, must not forget gym. Love...where's love? That should be on this list. Chelsea is still asleep. She needs her beauty rest. Perhaps I'll take her down to the river. Looking at the water is quite consoling. We live next to the river. There's a wonderful bike bath which Chelsea and I use. She sits in the basket of my bike and we head all over. Sometimes even to Brooklyn.

Wow! It's Chelsesa birthday. Don't ask how old! You never ask a woman there age particularly a star. You know there is age discrimination in Hollywood for women. I'll say good-bye for now.

Pictures from the premiere

2005-03-12T19:09:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
I googled my name and found this site with pix from the premiere. They are small but you will get a sense.

You can tell I love pix.

Welcome

2005-03-12T18:05:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,
This is my first blog and first entry. I, Gayle Kirschenbaum and Chelsea, my Shih Tzu Diva and dog-ter, have just made a film together called A DOG'S LIFE: A DOGAMENTARY which will premiere Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 7:30 PM on HBO's channel Cinemax. Our website is www.dogamentary.com. And you can learn more about the broadcast including an interview with me and the schedule of its airing by going to http://www.cinemax.com/reel/adogslife/index.html.

When you visit our site you will see a Diary button on the right and that's where we were initially putting our entries. I'm single, Chelsesa is single and we hit the streets of New York looking for a guy. Chelsea wore a specially rigged doggie cam.
We started attracting lots of attention right away and before we knew we were featured in so many places including the New York Times and on the Today Show. I can ramble on about the movie but you can just go to all the links I provide to learn more. There is an extended version which will released on the DVD with lots of extras.

HBO hosted a fabulous movie premiere this week. There were lots of people, tons of food and drink and much love in the room. There is nothing more gratifying for a filmmaker to sit in theater and listen to the audience laugh and at moments cry. I received so many accolades which are still coming. I was a television producer for several years living in Los Angeles and on the side like everyone else I was writing and peddling projects.. movies, series, reality shows. Several got option, but none made. Producing was fun and often quite interesting. I got to meet all kinds of people and get in places I normally couldn't. But there is something so satisfying when you produce your own vision and it's you in front of the camera and you in the edit room and then after working for so long alone and you bring out to the public, they respond, they love it! Wow! I have found my calling.

I recommend that you follow your passion. If anyone is in northern California, tomorrow, March 13 at 1:50 Pm
http://www.tiburonfilmfestival.com/ A Dog's Life will be playing. I was suppose to be there but just couldn't make that happen. Had too much to do.

This is a picture at the premiere at HBO. From left to right. Mary Cooke, who is the Director of Cabrini Hospice, Sara Bernstein, HBO executive, me (Gayle & Chelsea) and Stephanie LaFarge of the ASPCA.

What a great night!
Here's a pix of the poster.

I'm going to publish this and see if these pix show up and how they look.