LINDA DALY, NANCY'S DAUGHTER, REUNITES NANCY'S FRIENDS FOR HER BOOK PARTY

THE MAGICAL AFTERNOON.............

OUR NANCY

LINDA DALY, BILL ROSENDAHL AND ELI BROAD

Linda Daly, daughter of our beloved Nancy Daly, has written a magnificent book called "The Last Pilgrimage," describing her mother's last journey across the country. Nancy, who was dying of cancer, had one last hope. She wanted to see the healer John of God. But John of God was on the east coast, and Nancy was in Los Angeles, very close to the end of her life. Linda Daly and Nancy's nurse, Laurie, took Nancy on a private plane to the east coast. Nancy met John of God and then wanted to go back home to Los Angeles. She didn't know it, but she had a collapsed lung, and a doctor told her she couldn't fly home. Nancy chose not to treat it and asked Linda to get her home no matter what. Linda decided to rent an RV. She called her brothers Bobby and Brian and they flew out to help with the driving. That is the set up for this book........the journey of how the children tried to get their mother home in time. You have to read what happened. It is heart-wrenching, personal and beautiful. This is a book written by a loving daughter describing her emotional journey about life and death with a mother she loved deeply. It is a universal plight.

Over the weekend, a party for Linda was given at Carol Biondi's house by Carol, and a number of Nancy's friends. What was so beautiful is that for most of us it was a reunion of people who haven't been together as a group since the private funeral. It was bittersweet, but as the afternoon wore on, it really turned into joy. At one point I was sitting with Edye Broad, Cheryl Saban, and Susan Dolgen, and Nancy's son Bobby joined us. He looked at us and said, "Seeing you all sitting here talking is what I remember every time I went into the house. It makes me so happy to see this again."

Nancy Daly was simply one of God's angels on earth. I miss her every day of my life.

NANCY AND I WENT TO A "KARDASHIAN" COSTUME PARTY A FEW YEARS AGO

EDYE AND BOBBY DALY

JANET RAPPOPORT AND DR. RAPPOPORT

SARA NICHOLS, LINDA, AND NIKKI IRVING

LYNDA RESNICK

FRANK AND CAROL BIONDI AND ZEV YAROSLAVSKY

JODI WEINBERG AND SUZANNE TODD

THE INCREDIBLE RITA BROWN, NANCY'S EXEC ASST. AND FRIEND TO ALL

SORRY---I HAVEN'T FELT LIKE WRITING. THAT'S THE TRUTH

Sometimes it happens. You get out of the mood. It's also heading into summer..........

But here we go.

AROUND THE TOWN-----

WEST LOS ANGELES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA played their 21st anniversary concert at Royce Hall a few night ago. The orchestra was glorious, and featured LA Phil bassist extraordinare, Ben Hong, and soprano Gai Ki.  Leah Berman, president of the orchestra, is a criminal lawyer by day, and a musician by night. She formed the orchestra many years ago as an alternative to the LA Phil for people who can't necessarily afford it. She is very dedicated, and the event was lovely.

Ben Hong and son Julian

Sandy Pressman and Leah Bergman

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AT ANOTHER EVENT--A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY FOR MY FRIEND, NAUSHABA

THE MAGNIFICENT ROZ WYMAN RECEIVES THE ROSE AWARD

“Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations.”----George Bernard Shaw

Roz Wyman and best friend Jean Firstenberg

One morning when I was in grammar school, my mother was sitting at the breakfast table awaiting me, holding up the front page of the LA Times and sporting a big grin. "Look at this headline," she said proudly. The words "It's a Girl" in big type were on page 1. Next to it I saw a picture of a young girl named Roz Wyman. She was 22-years-old and the first woman EVER elected to the LA City Council. The year was 1953. In the council chambers they didn't even have bathrooms for women at that time. She couldn't enter through the front door if there were meetings at the Jonathan Club. (She made them change the location.) But Roz fixed all of that. As my mother showed me that headline she said, "You see Susie, you can be anything you want to be." It was profound for me, and every time I see Roz or even just hear about her I am so grateful for what she did for all little girls like me.

 

In 1953 she married the brilliant attorney and Democratic Party operative named Eugene Wyman. Gene and Roz were one of the most powerful Democratic couples in the country. It was Roz Wyman who Bobby Kennedy called in 1960 to ask how to get Hollywood to notice and support his brother's candidacy for president. "I'll throw a fundraiser," said Roz, thereby being the certified inventor of the Hollywood Celebrity Fundraiser. She called Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh; the Kennedys showed up in Los Angeles; the rest is history.

 

Roz' proudest achievement in her civic career was being the person who brought the Dodgers to Los Angeles. It's a long story--just know that she REALLY was the one who did it. Ask an O'Malley, Tommy Lasorda or Vin Scully. They'll tell you.

 

She was chair of the Democratic Convention for all the U.S. in 1984. She has advised almost every democrat politician you've ever known, and continues to do so. Senators Feinstein and Boxer, as well as former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have her on speed dial. It was Roz that Bobby Kennedy spoke with election night as things looked like Nixon might win by a small margin. You name it, and she's been there behind the scenes. 

Jan Perry

Nancy Malone and Anne Taylor Fleming

 

Her accomplishments are many (feel free to Google her), but baseball and recreational parks are her heart. There is already the Wyman Diamond at Cheviot Hills Park on Motor. On May 25th the Palms Recreation Center will be named the Rosalind Wyman Recreation Center, and a new field will be opened that day. She's throwing out the first ball at the Dodger Game this coming Tuesday night.

 

Peg Yorkin

This past week she was given the Rose Award by the Los Angeles Parks Foundation for being "a pioneer for civic leadership in Los Angeles." As Vin said in her introduction, "There would be no Dodgers if it weren't for Roz Wyman."

Vin and Roz

 

"I did feel the responsibility of being a pioneer," said Roz in her acceptance speech. "I DID have to broker a bathroom for myself. It got so crazy that at one point the LA Times ran a cartoon of City Hall with an outhouse next to it that had Roz Wyman on it."

 

Dodger Legend Sweet Lou Johnson

And then she went into her apprecaition of the O'Malley family. "One of the most rewarding things about my life is having known the O'Malley family. Walt and Kay showed me what a devoted family meant, and it carries on to this day."

Tommy Lasorda and Roz

 

She closed with the George Bernard Shaw quote you saw on top. Never was it more apt.    

 

 

HOW'S VALERIE HARPER???? FINE, THANK YOU

 

THIS WAS SHOT LAST NIGHT AT THE GALA BEFORE THE RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY TODAY. SHE IS LIVING EVERY SECOND, AND FORTUNATELY HER TREATMENT IS GOING WELL AND SHE FEELS GOOD. THANK YOU, GOD

THE LUCIE AND "ETHEL" PALM SPRINGS CAPER

I LOVE PALM SPRINGS, AND I LOVE TO HANG OUT THERE WITH LUCIE ARNAZ. INEVITABLY, AT SOME POINT DURING OUR VISITS, WE COME UP WITH A CAPER. IT'S NOT DELIBERATE, IT JUST HAPPENS SPUR OF THE MOMENT. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE OTHERS, BUT THE LAST ONE WE DID HAD A BOTCHED ESCAPE AND WE ALMOST GOT CAUGHT BY SECURITY.

Koffi fountain

WE WERE SITTING AT A PLACE CALLED KOFFI, HAVING AN ICED SOMETHING OR OTHER BY A BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN THIS PAST SUNDAY MORNING. SHE WAS SHOWING ME SOME PICTURES ON HER IPHONE AND SHE SHOWED ME A PHOTO OF HERSELF SITTING ON A BRONZE BENCH WITH A LIFE-SIZE BRONZE FIGURE OF HER MOTHER. WE STARTED LAUGHING BECAUSE THAT'S JUST PLAN WEIRD AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT? PLUS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HECK OF A SENSE OF HUMOR BECAUSE IT'S SO DIVINELY ABSURD.

LUCIE COMMENTED THAT SHE NOTICED THE BUSHES AND PLANTS PLANTED BEHIND THE STATUE WERE OVER GROWN AND NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THE WHOLE STATUE. OUR EYES LOCKED! SAME THOUGHT. SAME TIME. GO GET PLANT CLIPPERS AND GIVE HER MOTHER'S STATUE A HAIRCUT!!!!!

Too overgrown and bushy

THE STATUE AND BENCH ARE LOCATED RIGHT OUTSIDE THE COFFEE BEAN AND ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY RIGHT IN PALM SPRINGS PLAZA--ONE OF THE MOST POPULATED AREAS. AND REMEMBER, IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING AROUND BRUNCH TIME......SO OF COURSE WE DECIDED TO DO IT IN PLAIN SIGHT!!!

"YOU KNOW WE'RE LUCY AND 'ETHEL,'" SHE COMMENTED. "YES, I DO." 

BEING "PLANTINGLY CORRECT," LUCIE CALLED HER FRIEND AND LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CINDY SHOEMAKER WHO LIVES IN PALM SPRINGS AND, COINCIDENTALLY IS LANDSCAPING LUCIE'S (AND LARRY'S) NEW HOUSE. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PLANT IT WAS AND WHERE TO CUT WITHOUT INJURING IT. TURNED OUT IT WAS BOUGAINVILLA. ON TO THE CLIPPERS.... 

WE PARKED THE CAR AROUND THE CORNER IN AN END SPOT ON A STREET A BLOCK AWAY FOR A QUICK GETAWAY. WALKING WITH PURPOSE, BUT SLIGHTLY STEALTHILY, WE SAW THE CROWDS AND STARTED TO LAUGH. BUT WE KEPT ON WALKING.

RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STATUE, WE PUT OUR PURSES DOWN AND TOOK OUT THE CLIPPERS AND WENT TO WORK. LUCIE CHOPPED AND I PICKED UP BRANCHES (LONG BRANCHES)  AS FAST AS I COULD AND DEPOSITED THEM IN A TRASH CAN ON THE CORNER. WE BOTH HAD ON DARK GLASSES AND TRIED TO LOOK TOTALLY OFFICIAL, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE IN SHORTS AND TOPS. AS PEOPLE GATHERED, WE BEGAN TO PEPPER OUR DIALOGUE WITH THINGS LIKE....."COMMUNITY SERVICE CAN BE FUN"........"I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO TRAFFIC SCHOOL"......"I LIKE WORKING FOR THE CITY."

THEN SOME TOURISTS CAME UP AND ASKED, "WOULD YOU MIND MOVING TO THE SIDE  FOR A MINUTE, WE WANT A PICTURE WITH LUCY." LUCIE SAID, "OF COURSE NOT. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TAKE IT FOR YOU?" THEY ANSWERED, "NO, THANKS."

I WAS CHOKING FROM TRYING NOT TO LAUGH. SHE AND I COULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT EACH OTHER.

AND, AT THE END, WE DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB. LUCIE TRIMMED, I TRASHED, AND AT THE END I GOT A WET PAPER TOWEL AND WIPED THE BIRD DROPPINGS OF OF LUCY'S HEAD.

Bye bye bird droppings

The new, manicured Lucy!!!!

BOB AND DOLORES HOPE SPECIAL SALE!! THIS SAT AND SUN

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!

IT'S THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, STARTING AT 9 AM AT ST. CHARLES BORROMEO CHURCH ON MOORPARK IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD. YOU CAN BUY THEIR CHINA, SILVER, MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCLUDING BOB HOPE PERSONAL MEMORABILIA.

This is the sale of items that are reasonably priced (for the most part--there are some more expensive treasures) for the general public.

I'M GOING TO BE THERE. ARE YOU?

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT PREMIERE WITH JESSICA WALTER

I LOVE THE SHOW "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT." THE GENIUS OF CREATOR MITCH HURWITZ IS DAZZLING. The network version of the show went off the air a while back, but the hard core fans wouldn't let it go. Now Netflix is streaming 15 new episodes starring the same cast--Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, my Jessica, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, David Cross, Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat. In case you've never seen it, go to Netflix and start watching. Your life will be enhanced immeasurably. As for Jessica.......she has always been known for her dramatic film and Broadway acting, but she is one of the funniest people in the world. All she has to do is say

"Hello" or any word she chooses to me, and I can't stop laughing. Jessica's husband, Ron Leibman was not there, but she was cheered on by her daughter Brooke Bowman, v-p of ABC Family and about to give Jessica her first grandchild, and her brother Richard, the star screenwriting professor at UCLA.

Yes, it was parked out front of the party

A screening of two of the new episodes was in the gorgeous landmark Grauman's Theatre. I will call it that no matter who owns it. I just pray that the upgrade it's about to receive isn't a downgrade. There are so many surprise star cameos that I don't want to spoil it for you. It was gasps and laughter all night.

After the screening we all went across the street to the pool at the Roosevelt Hotel. Gigantic plastic ducks were floating in the pool. Wild lighting and music took you into a crazy world--perfect for a crazy, brilliant show like ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.  Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were at the screening, but they had to go home right after because Ellen had a show the next day.

Jessica with Jeffrey Tambor

Ellen and Portia just got smashed by the crowd

Duck Pandemonium

Forget me, look at the ostrich. It's in the series, too